However, we would love to build relationships with other investors and hope to build strong partnerships further. 

If you can truly find high-quality (off-market) deals, then you can bring it to a few groups you build relationships with.Partnerships can be very complicated, particularly long-term ones. 

He’s worth his weight in gold and I wouldn’t risk our relationship by offering him a “Bonus” threatening him with a timeline.

I find myself trying to be easygoing to avoid ruining the relationship and turning a good tenant bad. 

My question for the community is what's the market look like in SC and how do I find financing or build relationships with other investors in a new area when starting out?

We learned timing, budgeting, project planning, relationship building, and the power we have working as a team.

I have a great professional relationship with him and his fiancé and so far they are great tenants in every way possible.

Both of your ideas presume that the landlord has all control in a leasing relationship and that a tenant is in such a need - they will bend over backwards to make this deal work out (for the landlord). 

They may claim that one will cover the other or they are meant for each other and can’t live with out the other, but let’s be real about marriage and relationships in this world.

Relationships with people: what is your network of sellers, inspectors, contractors, etc.?