If you are buying now, make sure you are not counting on rental income to pay any bills in near future.

@Ellis Fairley Yes the tax records are a good way to find out who the current owner of a property is, their current mailing address, bedroom and bathroom count, square footage, zoning, what that specific property last sold for, when it sold and what the taxes were for the previous year.

Turns out that counted for something and they chose us to buy the house.  

It will depend highly on the location and how you are counting profit? 

The reason I ask is it seems as though I would be double counting on-going expenses (insurance, taxes, and interest) if I also incorporate them into the initial investment calculation as well as in the NOI calculation. 

On top of all this, my wife got her real estate license in September (to help with costs, speed, etc) and has helped 13 families and counting purchase their dream homes…many who see properties with changes they want to make, she now has the knowledge to give design ideas & approximate costs and her clients LOVE that!

Thank you *all* (seriously, there are more of you to thank in this thread than I can count).

Your lender can give you estimate closing cost. 2) You need sign lease and deposit proof of advance rent. 75% rental income will be count as income. 

If I can get 70% even better but I'm not counting on it.

People have short memories and think stuff like that will never happen again......personally I would never buy in those areas unless I'm flipping it and moving on.....no way would I buy a long term buy and hold there.I just sold my property in Kingwood.....flooded all around the neighborhood but not near my property...it was a stressful 2 weeks..... really don't want to do that again....dodged a big bullet with no flood insurance and I'm not counting on dodging mother nature again