Also, if you are using one standard set of criteria to review all tenants, both section 8 and non-section 8, do you require a minimum credit score?

I was a lender/banker that, after a long career on consumer mortgage and then commercial banking/lending, went to work for a community bank in Florida that was operating under a "memorandum of understanding" with regulators.

Super Jumbo mortgage loans and lenders can vary widely in their rates and qualifications. 

I did a DSCR loan the other month at 8% and $2,300 in lender fees.

Credit score- the higher the best. 760-780+ generally gets best pricing for investment property loans with most lenders. 

My idea is to purchase a property with a division (or the possibility of one) so I can place her in a small apartment 1/1 and rent the rest of the house to offset the Mtg as much as I can.As things are today its been impossible to find something that covers it all, Im seeing that I would still have to come up with some cash every month.I met with a lender yesterday and he presented to me an option for a 5% down loan.

Do you have any recommendations on lenders or someone investing in real estate in the area?

What Bruce says about new homes is accurate.New communities CCRs needs to be reviewed so you are not stack in a property that can't be rented out.ROI will be very los what I see in new communities is 10yrs in average, it will all depend on the time in the market.Another thing with new communities in those growing cities is that they are not investors friendly for LTR as the rent price tends to be lower than in other market.However there are plenty of opportunities in North Dallas, many other cities with growing population are great to invest.

Home inspector, property manager (some states require various licensing), admin at a realtor office, contractor / trade apprentice, landscaper, home painter, lender, wholesaler, or co host / arbitrage STRWorking at a Lowe's or Home Depot would be good too.

AND unless you partner with a seasoned Real estate investor who has a SREO no lender with consider you.