Relocation Benefit FOMO or Golden Opportunity?

Looking for some outside perspective on a relocation decision.

I’m 28, earn about $120,000/year, and my employer is relocating me to the Greenville, SC area with an unusually generous relocation package.

They will:

Pay essentially all costs associated with selling my current Florida home (commissions, closing costs, etc.), or

If I keep it as a rental, pay for professional property management for up to 3 years.

If I purchase a home in the new area, they’ll also cover the purchase transaction costs and closing costs (excluding my down payment).

I’m trying to decide how to take advantage of the opportunity without overextending myself.

My instinct is not to tie up a large amount of cash in a down payment or buy more house than I need. I’d rather preserve liquidity and purchase a modest home with strong appreciation potential. Ideally, it would be somewhere near the foothills or mountains where, decades from now, it could double as a peaceful retirement getaway while hopefully appreciating well over the long term.

Another wrinkle is that my relocation area isn’t limited to South Carolina. It also includes parts of North Carolina and Georgia, so I’m wondering whether it makes financial sense to buy just across a state line if there are meaningful long-term tax or cost-of-living advantages while still commuting to Greenville.

Current situation:
$120k annual income
825 credit score
Strong savings for a down payment
Own a home in Florida with a low-interest mortgage
What would you do?
Sell the Florida home and simplify?
Keep it as a rental since property management is essentially free for three years?
Buy a modest appreciating property in the Greenville area?
Or would you seriously consider North Carolina or Georgia over South Carolina for the long-term financial benefits?

I’m trying to optimize for long-term wealth, flexibility, and quality of life—not simply buy the biggest house I can afford. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through a similar relocation or has experience with the Greenville market.