Houston, TX Rental Investments

[JoJo Tucker]

Hello Everyone,

I live in California and would like to invest in my first out-of-state rental property. I narrowed my search down to Phoenix, Austin, Denver, and Houston. Houston appears to be the most practical for me, in terms of listing prices, ROI, and market stability. Ideally I would like to purchase somewhere close to the downtown area, south-west to be exact.

My questions are: 

Do you believe Houston to be a lucrative market?

Because this is my first-time investment, should I prioritize Condo/Apartments over SFR to minimize unforeseen expenses?

My budget is $180,000. Would I see a greater ROI if I purchased a 1 bed/1 bath Condo/Apartment near downtown or a SFR with 3+ bed/3+ bath that is several miles away from downtown area?

I look forward to hearing from everyone!

Thank you,

JoJo Tucker