Without my wife's direct involvement, I think some of our homes would have struggled to stay afloat.   

I m in the same boat, doing some research and want to stay in Dubai with family, in near future. 

Here’s how:Create Urgency with Scarcity: If you're not already, market your available units as in-demand—make it clear these units rarely stay vacant for long. 

I have been told to stay away from lease options in Texas.

I know you want to go full time and jump in, but I'd recommend staying with your day job as long as you can - it makes your life a lot more comfortable to have a steady stream of income to pay the bills every month!

Existing tenant stayed in my rental property 3 years without rent increase.

I'd recommend staying within 10-15% of the median priced home because that's where the most demand will be not only for renters but owner occupants as well. 

Prices a few years ago were based on expectations of (in addition to interest rates staying low): - Then current operating cost assumptions (like insurance cost expectations being flat)- A seeming disregard for record levels of new inventory / supply hitting the market- Extremely high inbound migration expectations which are likely to not be met, due to both natural disasters and the boomerang effect when people from California or the Northeast move to the American South and hate every minute of the humidity, the large and relentless swarm of insects, and the occasional hurricane. 

Airbnb with a minimum of 1 month stay could be a good reference too. 

One way would be to get the real estate under contract, then bring an experienced partner in who also has access to capital, and stay in the deal as a minority equity partner.