https://www.har.com/content/newsroom/Houston Real Estate Highlights in June Single-family home sales rose 1.8 percent year-over-year, with 8,518 units sold, the largest one-month sales volume of all time;Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes declined from 50 to 48 days;Total property sales reached record levels, rising 1.7 percent, with 10,115 units sold – the first time that number has broken the 10-thousand mark;Total dollar volume increased 6.6 percent to slightly more than $3 billion;The single-family home median price rose 2.6 percent to $245,000, reaching an all-time high;The single-family home average price increased 4.3 percent to a record high of $316,463;Single-family homes months of inventory was at a 4.1-months supply, the highest level since last August and equal to the national inventory level;Townhome/condominium sales rose 4.9 percent, with the average price down 1.7 percent to $211,050 and the median price down 4.1 percent to $163,000;Leases of single-family homes climbed 4.7 percent with the average rent up 3.9 percent to $1,877;Volume of townhome/condominium leases fell 4.2 percent with the average rent up 6.7 percent to $1,662.

And most of it is older stock built 30+ years ago needing upgrades. 

I was working as an EMT for $hit pay and long hours, in a broken medical system.

Thanks for the response, I am comfortable putting a decent down payment down but I still want a good amount of cash to wiggle with for any unexpected things / upgrades before going on the market. 

They left the property filthy and with tons of broken stuff.

And don't forget that the redemption period would require the buyer to pay you for all upgrades +10%. 

Anything not projected to last a minimum of 5 years is replaced/upgraded.  

I've lived in the property for almost 4 years now and am looking to upgrade my primary residence for a little more room for the family and rent this one out.

Maybe you need an upgrade then 

Broken handle on the washer/dryerLight flickering and occasionally not working in the kitchenBlinds that have some missing pieces/cracked elementsBurner on stove not workingThese all seem like items I should pay except for maybe the first and third ones.Really appreciate getting the opinion of others here as I figure out how all of this works!