It's easier said than done, but decide what you're willing to spend and stick to it.

I plan to head to the area in the beginning of December and would love to use the time I spend there to speak with lenders, property managers, etc. to make a more educated decision. 

Initially, they were not inclined to assist.

They spend their time at the beach, doing excursions or drinking or eating out.

An LP writing a $10mm check, likely, will visit the offices of the sponsor and spend a few days with them.  

Feel free to reach out if you need any insights or assistance with DFW properties.

The goal is to change careers to something that allows me to decide my hours (in the process of now), become a landlord, and finally spend more time with my kids and family. 

The more time you spend on administrative tasks coordinating with multiple service providers, the less time you get to spend on managing your properties, finding new potential investments and increasing your financial returns.Tax strategies and property insurance are two areas that are highly customizable because no two portfolios are identical.

You should only consider switching when your current software has a significant flaw or lacks features that force you to spend excessive time on workarounds.

How much you can spend will determine it.