You have a wider selection of homes to choose from and potentially more room for negotiation.

As an investor, you should only make numbers-based purchases.Also, agents are only transaction-based - if they make a mistake (or choose to take advantage of your naivete) they still get their commission check and can disappear:(So, a great PMC is often the best choice to start with, since they obviously know the rental market and they have to deal with whatever they help you buy, on a daily basis after the purchase!

I came across a website - myhousedeals.com - that claims to find wholesale deals for you in the area you choose.

I am choosing to turn my current primary into a rental in TX, and possibly moving to AL.

I would recommend that you first Identify a strategy and make sure that the market you choose that aligns with it then establish your Core 4 Real Estate Team. 

Is there a reason you would choose an FHA loan over conventional? 

This means identifying your investment goals first, then choosing a market that aligns with that strategy.

LLCs are not needed at this stage if you choose that route but if you choose to close into an LLC, the lender would require it before closing.

Your profile mentions that you are a real estate agent - You want to have a conversation to see if you potentially are eligible to claim real estate professional status which would allow you to treat your rental losses as active instead of passive.Also have a conversation if you are required to make estimated tax payments since there is no withholding on your commissions.Lastly, your profile mentions you are in Florida which does not have a state income tax which opens you up to more options for choosing an accountant.

Identify your investment goals first, then choose a market that aligns with it and establish your Core 4 Real Estate Team.