I am new to this,  am very interested in learning more about notes as an investment as opposed to being a landlord. 

We don't know all the exact language of your agreement, and if the lease option was one agreement, as opposed to two, you might have some extra eviction issues.

Also it's much tougher now to get enough discount on a short sale to flip it, as opposed to a few years ago when the banks were buried, and deals fell thru the cracks.

I am not opposed to looking within an hour or two drive from where I currently live, which is borderline Plano/Frisco.  

Don't know of any HML's lending on NPN's, as opposed to the actual real property. 

The Credit Reporting agencies like Experian, Transunion, and Equifax tightened the requirements to allow access to personal credit reports, things like having to have a commercial business address as opposed to working out of a bedroom or a garage and other reasons.

Also, if buy investment property (as opposed to a duplex or quad that you owner-occupy), then you'll need at least 20% down.  

Landlord/owner of record is almost Always responsible for water...if the tenant doesn't pay, the landlord must pay, no matter who's name it is in (as opposed to other utilities like electric).

Well I am really just doing an update as opposed to an intro, I have kinda steered off the road of bigger pockets and other web sights trying get my contracts, I am pleased to let you know I have!!

So then being that I ultimately want to buy many properties, its probably wise to take out mortgages on multiple units all at once as opposed to just buying one unit in cash and waiting to make the money back to purchase more down the line?