Personally, I think it’s a nice riverfront town with a lot of potential.

Agricultural land, zoned agricultural/residential.

I've been tempted to look for condos in a vacation area like Gatlinburg/Pigeon forge or maybe in a college town like Lexington KY.

I'm from the outskirts of Charlotte, NC in a smaller town of York, SC.

@Marc Winter The rumor around town is that most PM's are at 85% occupancy rate but it is really hard to tell since there isn't a reporting agency.

Would love to hear from local investors or folks with firsthand experience in this part of town.

Usually coastal towns and mountain towns do the best, I would try to find something that is available year round rather than seasonal for my first one.• Are there any markets I should avoid right now due to instability, strict rules, or weak management options?

NJ has a lot of towns with solid rental demand right across from Staten Island — places like Bayonne, Jersey City Heights, Union City, or even Elizabeth.If you want a pure rental, you’ll need a bigger down payment (usually 20–25%) and strong financing lined up.

The majority of 1-4 MF are in super expensive areas like Montrose, less desirable areas outside of town, or new developments which haven't proven their long term attraction. 

I've pulled delinquent tax records from the town clerk, I've called the local probate court and they will send me their probate estate filings list, but I haven't turned up much so far.