Hey @LaShanti Penn      I would suggest connecting with more local investors and maybe joining the local Charlotte chapter on the North Carolina Real Estate Investor Association.

Check out the BiggerPockets local meetups here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/5212.

As @Daniel Sperling said, either get a standard contract that you can edit from a realtor you know or pay a local attorney to draw you up an air-tight contract that you can re-use once they know your goals - direct to seller, wholesaler, etc.The worst thing you can do is show up with a half-page doc for a seller.

My family is in the new home construction business locally, so new builds seem to be the smartest route. 

Here are some recommendations to help you on your journey:To begin, get pre-approved for a loan from local lenders like Georgia's Own Credit Union, SunTrust (now Truist), and Wells Fargo.

Do you think joining my local REIA would be helpful?

I'm curious if anyone has created "digital guidebooks" for their STRs? 

If the tax benefits out weigh the costs, then you'll want to move toward that strategy.If you attend local RE meetups, maybe you could ask for recommendations there.

Your best bet is to find your local REIA chapter and join. 

While most municipalities do not possess an interative map as easy to use, once you famiarlize yourself with the base zoning districts that allow the 2-4 unit buildings, relying on the local zoning maps will help direct you to the specific areas within the municipality that possesses the proper zoning.