However, Columbia is not exactly an Atlanta, GA or Charlotte, NC and I was wondering if I should focus really hard on looking for a good property in my area or would it be worth going farther away, to say Charlotte(about 1.5 hours away), with a higher work force and most likely a higher demand for housing.

Outside of work, some of my hobbies include golfing, fishing, and playing the drums.

I ended up making $2500 in commission on it.If I were not a realtor, I would have simply talked to him and found out what he was willing to pay, then wrote up a wholesale contract, then put the home under contract with HUD, then played the spread.This was my most recent deal, but I have picked up endless buyers for other homes while parked outside of HUD homes.

I really am not desiring to manage my properties myself, it's not in my long term game plan.The town is small and with city codes I don't know that they would accept a box as an address as well, and I tend to try to play by the rules and codes rather than break or bend them, but that is just me. 

I heard another investor tell a story on securing a lead and speaking on the phone with a homeowner who was motivated but needed or appeared to need a push aka playing hard to get.

I play on having a large amount of spare time.If need be I could relatively easily acquire a job paying 50-60k per year @ a 40hr workweek as a staff nurse at a local hospital.I live 55 miles south of knoxville, which is where i would like to buy a home, which essentially, will be my first investment property a year or two down the line.I plan on living in what I buy while i finish up clinicals in knox (would save me driving time)Down to the numbers, there are several homes (just by simply looking at the MLS), that would probably make suitable places to live in and in the future transition into rentals.

These factors rule far above playing with the numbers and cap rates on which many solely rely.

Next time she has one of these demands, a firm no and an offer to release her from her lease would be a wise course of action.

I didn't know the purpose of ownership played into the 1031.

I'm hoping this plays a role when I go to get the mortgage.