United Wholesale Mortgage is only lender I'm aware of that allows for $100k or less for a DSCR loan.

Any tips for navigating the competition in such a hot market?

If I could start finding off market deals myself I think it could work, usually the assignment fee from wholesalers is the difference between pulling all your money out and not.   

The area has attracted a lot of new young professionals with their work from home marketing that gives $10,000 to qualified families to help them establish themselves in the area.

Houston is an excellent market for multifamily investments.

This last year I've been trying to really learn the business and begin to market for properties.

My wholesale business found the deal, I bought from my wholesale business to build my portfolio. 

Here are some of the more longstanding discussions that may help to answer your questions.Specifically at Rent To Retirement, we operate a turnkey marketplace that focuses about 90% on A class, new construction properties located in growth markets.

If so, you may be able to wholesale the property to someone (perhaps even someone in one of those $400,000 houses) in such a way that you and your grandmother come out whole.

The strategy may change, but every market can work.