I'm putting down roots in Texas and looking for small and mid-sized multi-family units. 

As Craig said, I would check out the person's social media accounts and look for red flags.

Loose doorknobs and faucets add up.For Multi-families in Boston and Cambridge, I view an inspection contingency as a red flag.

They could have issues with your property IE a tree root is making their sprinkler system leak etc.

My goal and plan is to find a deal that is smokin hot, red hot and find out if being a landlord is something I want to do long term. 

I myself own a 4600 sq. ft. house on 20 acres in Redding CA and have rented the rooms to students at a local ministry school, a Christian missionary group, and currently rent to a sober living home, that subleases the rooms to women in transition. 

Also a home office is NOT a red flag like it used to be, because so many people work from home today. 

From my agricultural roots, I think of planting seeds and eating the resulting vegetables and fruits (or killing and eating the animals that eat the vegetables and fruits).

It's red and white on the app store if not!

The roots are already lifting up the pavement and causing potential hazard, it is just a matter of time until it finds it way to the sewer line.