You pay a bit more, but you get exactly what you want and don't have to worry about maintenance for a while which is obviously a savings.I live in the Woodlands, so considering the location of my home and rental property, I'd ideally like to build this in the area of The Woodlands, Conroe, Spring, Tomball, Klein, or Cypress. 

My guess would be its a "you get what you pay for" situation.Can anyone shed some light with recent experiences?

Determine what price you can pay for the property.

Your paying $180 for nothing for now.

For example, if the loan officer asks you what your monthly payments are and your mother-in-law moved in with you because she is struggling financially and you are paying her car payment, don't share that you are paying her car payment every month.

There is no set time for the county to foreclose on the property via a tax sale, according to this article purchasers of the tax lien certificate have to wait 5 years, as the owner has a redemption period after the tax sale, so you could be waiting a while, and if I'm not mistaken, you have to pay the taxes each year until the 5 year period is over, then you have to file for a deed or file a lawsuit to quiet title.https://smartasset.com/mortgage/how-to-buy-tax-liens-in-cali...Hope this helps,Dustin

@Matthew Crivelli  HUD Section 8 does not pay above market rents. 

Open to suggestions.Little about me I have a relatively higher paying public service job.

I have been using Rentredi, but allowing them to pay through cash app/venmo. 

I use a Manulife One and it has done wonders for paying down our primary residence (to a point where we were able to use some of that equity to fund our first LTR).