Austin, TX, Real Estate... What's the deal?

[Ajeet Baath]

Hi all,

I am moving to Austin, Tx, next month and I want to get involved in my first property deal! I know this is general, but does anyone have any tips specifically for someone with the below criteria? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I want to learn as much as I possibly can about this new city (good neighborhoods, success stories, networking opps - lenders, agents, prop managers, etc.): 

1. Rental property

2. budget: $150k-$200k

3. Interested in #1 cash-flow potential (replace my income) and #2 appreciation (great investment)

As a secondary question, how do you all think COVID will affect the Austin RE market if at all? Will we start seeing deals sometime soon, and why?