If there’s no history of problems in the area and I was doing it as a buy fix and hold I’d probly hold off on the inspection, if your going to flip it and there is known problems in the area you might want to know what’s there because the next buyer is more likely to look and if there’s problems they will likely be asking for some kind compensation.

A weak bleach solution will kill everything else.You should test it to make sure it's not a toxic kind.

I appreciate the kind words. 

I have not answered them.I would be fine making a small deal, a wholesale, or learning from someone locally and I didn't have any idea there were so many out here who are doing these kinds of investments. 

What kind of auction are you referring to?

Kind of like my mortgage on my house. 

I want to have one lined up early enough in the process, but not so early that I get texts / emails every week to check out homes when I'm not ready just yet. 6) What kind of programs or options for assistance as a first time homebuyer in TX are available and should I be starting them now (well in advance of any time limit deadlines that could crop up if I wait)? 

In your pre screening you ask:1) Do you presently have a pet of any kind.2) Do you foresee acquiring a pet of any kind during your tenancy.3) Is there any possibility you may need to pet sit someone else's animal.You then inform them that if any animal is found to be in, or has been in, the unit for any reason they will be evicted or assessed a $1000 fee for every occurrence on a per day  bases.Some are stupid but most applicants believe that landlords are so desperate and so dependant on needing a tenant asap they think landlords will ignore their own rules to accept a good applicant.

I am currently a business student and I have always been kind of interested in real estate investing, but have always been told that it's to risky and therefore just began to realize that the people that think it's to risky are also people that don't own ANY real estate(with the exception of their own home) so....

It's kind of an open-ended question, but really the criteria for "out of state" shouldn't be any different than if you were buying locally.