Correct - Track all your income and expenses.The bookkeeping will determine whether you are profitable or not.it will also be good to compare from year to year your income / expenses to see what expenses you can potentially try to limit.I.E.

I am not good with picking this stuff either. 

Keep it simple, paint and carpet, buy a good house in a quality area.

There are very few, good buying opportunities in the Austin metro-plex for pure investors.  

Good luck, hope this helps!

Does anyone have a good inspector recommendation in Chicago northwest suburb ?

Scheduling is the hardest part of construction , good subcontractors are not sitting home waiting for the phone to ring , they are scheduled out weeks if not months ahead of time .

Can I get a good mortgage? 

Good for you!

Plenty of good advice here @Ryan McKay.Don't rush things.