A simple Bi-Weekly with added payments can pay off a mortgage in 10-12 years.This strategy allows you to pay more at your own pace having a failsafe unlike a 15 year where you are obligated to pay more every month.

However, once I get my own home purchase out the way, the next move is to start building a rental property portfolio. 

I would assume you have to evict when you own it.

Hello BiggerPockets friends…My husband and I own two properties that we intended to use as rentals.

Crowley also looks to be growing and coming into it's own as well the past couple years, though not at the same level of some other popular suburbs in the metroplex.

Also, if the tenets already pay for their own electric and gas can you use RUBS (if leagal) for water and sewer?

As I mentioned before talk to a lender but I don't think you'll have a problem buying a single family down the line if you own a mutil first.

Yes, that loss carries over to your own federal taxes! 

I have big items backing up now like a garage roof tarped I can't afford to reshingle, a back fence falling apart at my own home, leaning trees that need taken out....

We financed with our own cash and builders lender to take advantage of incentives.