With comprehensive applications -- including pulled reports from TransUnion and nationwide criminal background checks + credit checks + eviction history -- the right platform should make it as seamless as possible for you if you're managing on your own. 

If you were still in Tampa, I could do the loan, but for consumers we're only in FL (we do rentals nationwide...just not consumer loans).

A local bank or one of the bigger nationwide investor specific lenders? 

The NAR does a random nationwide sample.

I also did a course on REI, although it was more of a nation wide program it was well worth my time, and marginally worth the money that I had spent.  

Many of the lenders we work with nation-wide won't lend to a borrower who is not within a certain radius of the property - no matter the numbers.

They lend nationwide and offer not only policies for landlords, but for tenants and liability, etc.

@Brandon SnyderThe MBA purchase index is a weekly measurement of nationwide mortgage applications (not homes purchased) based on a sample of 75% of US mortgage activity.

Alex, from what I've heard Wells Fargo seems to be making HELOCs on non owner-occupied properties nationwide, so that might be a good place to start.

Paying more for a car or truck means less money for the house, probably more debt to income which limits buying, less savings for the down payment, etc.Of course all of this is probably nationwide, not just in DFW, although DFW maintains the growth in population and growth in jobs, and probably room to move in salary increases.