What are the best sources or methods you use to accurately set rental rates in your area?

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

Are there any methods you want to stick with?

In this era of increased rates, obtaining properties that will produce a good return are harder to find and often involve quite a bit of work.  

If an attorney needs to get involved i currently don't have one, can anyone recommend one in the Houston area if need be? 

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

So this involves hiring an architect draw up plans ($1,000 - 3,000 if I had to guess).  

But now you have a challenge of documenting both your time AND time of everybody else involved with the property.Now, to answer your question - is it possible from out of state?

If no response contact the State Banking group and get them involved.  

I strongly recommend getting involved with your local REI meetup groups so you can work out your pitch with help from other landlords.I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way without tone or facial expressions behind it.