Really interested in investing in this market and would accept a relatively low return (or even a break even scenario because i believe in continued appreciation potential here). 

Farmers are some of the most ethical humans on earth.

Happy to chat about the FW market, we have several investors in that area with various results using LTR/MTR rentals.

I'm curious of the current market demand for student housing and appeal to rental investors.

Any idea on overall how is the market from STR investment perspective?

You'd want either an LLC in the state where the real estate is located or you can also just put it in your name and take out a good landlord's policy from Farmers, Erie, etc. which will protect your investment just fine. 

Just wondering can you ever catch a great deal on the market  and if so what’s stopping you from taking advantage?

Quote from @Michael Ewers: Hey y'all, Wondering what is the best marketing strategy for obtaining off market leads?

Also, how'd you narrow down your search to these two markets? 

One thing I’ve always done is focus on the 75th percentile of the rent estimates, as my properties tend to fall into that range (very nice, but small with no amenities).While I think there will always be some manual research involved, the current platforms lack key functionality that could be easily implemented with the available market data and technology.1.Quality Metrics:•Filter comps to match the quality of your rentals.