@Jeremy Staggers Houston has plenty :) American Title Company of Houston/Patriot Title/Capital Title ... all of them have 10+ branches  and they do all sorts of things for investors (e.g. expedite title search, loan doc prep, double close, blind HUD etc) ..PM me if when you have a contract and would be more then happy to introduce you to one of them.

I'm trying to decide when or if I should transition from "building the portfolio" and acquiring properties and move to paying down the loans and building cash flow. 

One piece here is that yes you can potentially find buyers that will have a premium for successful track record + even furnishings, listings, review - but important to remember that there won't be a premium assessed by the lender in almost all situations if the buyer is using financing to acquire - their loan will be based on the pure real estate value even if they are paying more - just a tip to keep clarified so no surprises that can throw off deals

You cannot cut locks, you cannot take possession, you cannot set foot on the property, you cannot make any improvements.

A bank will give me a loan (if its ARV is good) and I can use that new loan to pay off the original home equity, and buy another home plus pocket the difference?

Depreciation: Remember to depreciate the property and its improvements.2.

I look at each deal for the win/win test, as I am not out to loan money for a lousy deal and put the investor under a financial burden.

Loan rates on the ReFi have prohibited us from building a bunch more 3-4 unit properties recently, just kills the CF of the deal, but going all-cash on the purchase & construction still pencils. 

Most will have a hard set no if there is any indication of un permitted work since it is a long term loan.

Your gain on the rental property will beSales price less sales expenses less adjusted basis.Adjusted basis is purchase price plus improvements less accumulated depreciation.Best of luck.