kudos for your specific and thoughtful post. 

I’m from Houston and particularly interested in the Houston market and its surrounding areas so it is easier to manage.My Criteria:* To buy: 3bd/3ba property at Max: $350K.

Also would you focus on a specific target market you are familiar with and know the comps like the back of your hand and have boots on the ground ?

I'm happy to say that both criteria have been met. 

Think hard about your criminal background criteria.

Simply safety screening criteria.

There you will be asked your criteria and then after answering a few questions you will be matched with 3-5 agents or loan officers in your area.

My experience has been that although I outline the requirements for tenancy in my properties, both brokers and PMs still send people who would qualify for most property owners but do not meet my outlined criteria; and then are SHOCKED when I reject them.  

.- Depends on what you're doing specifically, but usually I'd recommend getting an EIN at least to give access to business bank accounts- Repeating #1, if you're going to a property and 100% of your time is spent doing renovations and the like, sure, but if any of it is for personal benefit, that'd be disallowed.

IRS criteria shift and move.