Currently there are over 21k active rentals in Austin, TX.

@Jeff EbertRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

However, increasing insurance rates means that this shortage is also increasing so my monthly payment is increasing exponentially to accommodate the increase in both my insurance rate and my shortage (my mortgage has increased over $400 monthly in the past 1.5 years because of these factors).TL;DR - Is it normal for a bank to require a positive escrow balance at all times like my current bank does?

Currently, nothing is penciling out so I don't think you are alone. 

Hi all, I currently have one real estate property in Cleveland Ohio (purchased in 2019) but have largely been out of the real estate game since COVID reared it's ugly head.

I'm a new RE investor in general and my intention was to shop around here if anyone is wiling to offer a better rate than my current one.I mean no harm/offense to any lenders out here, but I thought it would be a 'fun' post to do to attract some attention and traffic.

Still researching, but one of the problems my boyfriend (currently deployed but stationed at Ft.

Assuming your DTI is in good shape, the easiest way to put the least down out of pocket is to use a HELOC on your current property as your down payment and conventional loan for the rest of the purchase. 

Many of them are encumbered by a low ltv loan to a friend who helped me get started.

Currently you can get DSCR loans for up to 80% of the purchase price.For the 2 neighborhoods you looked at, I would look at price average over the last 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.