I hope everyone’s year is headed to a great start.

I don't know myrtle beach well, but used to go to Hilton Head with my family when I was little.  

Both of those property types/approaches have added risks and pitfalls associated with them, in my experience. 

Head on over to YouTube and search Turnkey Rental Scam or Turnkey Rental Due Diligence.

This is where we choose the duty station we will be heading to.

To ensure success you will definitely want to associate with like-minded people, people with experience and who are already doing what it is you want to do, and people who inspire you… not naysayers, negative people, nor critics.

Also search for them on NARPM (it's an association for PMs)

Check out the version with class tracking that allows you to associate each transaction with a particular property.

So a conventional lender - are they associated with a bank, CU, independent lender or are they a mortgage broker working with many lenders?

Most landlords aren't going to want to do that for a few reasons, one is the risk associated with having strangers going in and out of their property, the extra wear and tear plus damage that can occur from guests behaving badly.