Do you sell / buy real estate in Mexico personally? 

A contract is only as good as the person enforcing it.

Any recommendations on Houston REI groups that meet in person or virtually?

If the IRS has a Form 1098, they assume that the person listed on the form made the payments, and they move on. 

Having graduated from BC myself, I understand the charm it holds, which can be perfect for the right person.

@Dona CardenasI personally think actually owning physical real estate is the best way to go especially using leverage.  

Never buy without personally inspecting and approving the property and INDEPENDENTLY, INDEPENDENTLY, INDEPENDENTLY, verifying everything from values to market rates, to approving tenant selection procedures and standards, to repairmen on standby, to everything else in Christendom that you can thing of.I am not a fan of out-of-state investing, especially for those with less than 50 years of experience, and for them, they’re probably too old for the hassle. 

Be prepared to follow up multiple times, using different forms of communication—calls, emails, and if possible, in-person visits to their office.

Whether the seller was open to a buyer commission or not, I wouldn't put an additional cost into any personal purchase.  

In addition, you want a separate bank account for the rental property to separate it from your personal accounts.