See if those can be covered for utilities.7.  

Frank, For a rookie investor with low capital looking to build a rental portfolio, the best strategy is house hacking: buy a small multi-family home with a low down payment (FHA or conventional loan), live in one unit, and rent the others to cover your mortgage.

Also something to note, I live in the North Fort Worth area and be aware that there is some school district drama brewing in Keller ISD that covers much of 76244 and 76248.

If you need to cover utilities, the numbers tighten significantly, making a lower purchase price essential.Let me know if you have any further questions or want to explore these numbers in more detail—I’d be happy to help! 

Then the rents would cover that payment plus the mortgage with cash left over.

It can still qualify if it's a fixer-upper, as long as the rental income from the property can cover the debt service.

As for the areas to target, my goal in getting our feet wet as real estate investors--and since we plan to be living in Sac--is to find a property we can live in while renting out one or more units to help cover our housing expenses, which we can then hold and continue to rent out when we move.

Worst case, you just cover it yourself and keep good neighbor relations.

You can use this property to hedge any others that you add that may only cover themselves, or require supplement until they are paid off.HOWEVER, if you have decided that your goal is to use Real Estate as a stepping stone to build wealth by upgrading the property you hold each time (condo to house, house to 4-plex, 4-plex to 8 unit, etc) then I think you are right to sell now while you think the property is at the top of it's appreciation.It will be hard for anyone on BP to tell you what to do as we don't know your goal.You are right. 

I will PM you my rep -- they are in Indianapolis, but if they don't cover your territory, I am sure they can send you contact info for someone.