Most of my visits are to NJ because that's where I grew up and lived most of my life, so I figure it's easier to learn those areas that are within driving distance of NJ.  

excellent counsel here - thanks esp Julie and Jackie - I am interested in Italy to retire in, but not Venice which I do love but...frankly I would like Trieste more as a place to live/invest in.Venice has its own particular structural considerations - esp if it is near a canal / the areas that flood etc - try to visit in more than one season and also at night - sometimes places that are totally quiet and idyllic by day have horrendous noise at night.EU laws also make life difficult for living/investing!

Yet isn't tiny custom houses pricier because there needs to be compartments all over the walk-in closet of a place, just so you can have guests visit or stay the night, the owners still want a study, an office, a recording studio...what that*(&_?

No idea on if there's an online database of Durham or Johnston county delinquent property taxes but you should be able to obtain some sort of data with a few phone calls or an in-person visit. 

My partner and I drove around the Ninth Ward when we visited recently... has that area come back yet?

One tip that I picked up here is while you are starting out and saving money for your investments, start driving / visiting areas you would like to invest in so you get a feel for prices, rents , house conditions etc, and visit and look at lots of homes and open houses so your eye get used to looking at repairs / upgrades that are normal in a particular market.

I can assure you I am not one.

See the BP post via the link below for example:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/213...Occasions like Pope Francis' visit in late September are rare, so the interest does not pique that often.

Our agreement requires that I take all incoming seller calls, schedule property visits, take photos during property visits, research outstanding taxes and utilities, and run all of it through the mentor.  

You get the idea.You will fail at some significant part of your first real estate deal as sure as I’m writing this.SOLUTION: Your first deal will suck.