I am currently working at a technician for a large Telecommunications company and I plan to keep that job while building my portfolio. 

Insurance is great, but just wait until you have to deal with them, they are quick to take your money and slow to pay out in a large disaster area.

.- Relax your pet policy to allow small and large dogs and cats. 

Many large apartments are master metered and are constructed in a way that prohibits a company from going in sub-metering them.

So, most large investors are doing what's called value-add, where you improve the property to raise rents.

Cory -   it doesnt  sound like you will need  this extra income for  qualifying so no need to wait  fyi  if your hours  will be  guaranteed and stable   , then the  higher income  should be usable ...if the  hours  are not guaranteed (  eg.. overtime ….seasonal …..not consistent ) , then  likely to not be usable Going FHA is not that  wise  as  the  FHA mortgage insurance is permanent and wont be able to  be eliminated  unless you refinance the loan plus you will have a  large upfront mortgage insurance that you have to pay at closing  ….consider using  a conventional  loan  as the mortgage insurance will  be able to drop off or be eliminated in the  future

As well, and assuming necessary, once done, you can advertise this upgrade and the positive resulting heating and cooling bills in future marketing when the need arises.For straight rentals (not a property sold via Lease Option, CFD, or other Owner Financing), I never pass large expenses on to my tenants (pretty much anything over $300, unless their fault), but assuming this is a defect or need that I did not see in my pre-purchase home inspection report, I will just deal with it out of my own pocket and earn a bit of positive "good landlord capital" in the process.Good luck with it!

As @Mike Serben said, DFW is a very large area with many options.

Something on a large corner lot, if possible.

Rental income largely depends on whether the bank considers you experienced.