I wish I had someone who could have provided some guidance on the grass roots of starting from the bottom.

The MLS has pretty much dried up out here so I’m going grass roots.

Possibly because they tend to be larger families looking to build roots in a community or school district.EXIT: Next, consider your exit strategy.

I would recommend you to call an expert on this because they can tell you where the root is.

Root cause: mortgage lending industry is deregulated and federal standards override state and local standards, ostensibly to encourage more mortgage lending to more people.

I am strongly leaning toward finding a real estate related legal position back in Texas, grow some roots, learn the local market, make local connections, build relationships, and then investing. 

Rooting for you. 

You'll end up paying $127+4k for a house that the market has demonstrated is only worth $130k and you will have done so with someone against you, not in your corner, rooting for their $4k fee regardless of the fact you're making an investment that the market testifies is backwards. 

For example, my lease says (in part): "Tenant shall be charged for repair of drain blockages or stoppages, unless caused by defective plumbing parts or tree roots invading sewer lines."

Living in Oregon wine country requires a lot more cash than my farmboy roots in Michigan.