Home isn't in a bad area 3bd /1 bath, built in 1951 and has oil heat. 

It would be great if there were no snake oil salesmen and you could trust everything you read online, but it just isn't the world we live in, so due diligence is the price you pay for a successful passive investment.A few general notes: Steer clear of anything that guarantees tenancy terms (can't be predicted or promised) or excludes any expenses in their ROI calcs.

Texas is a good state to invest in not because of lack of state tax, but because it has net immigration, diversification of its economy away from oil & gas, property price recovery from the 1980s S&L crisis (mostly DFW and Houston), relocation of corporate headquarters to Texas, and low overall cost of state government.

Full time mechanical engineer in the oil and gas industry, part time investor chipping away at my cash flow goal number - primarily from a passive role lately.  

I'm in New England where oil heat is the go to.   

Make sure you use 3 coats of good, oil based, polyurethane to protect it

Electric coil, gas, oil.

(forefront facts- no, i currently do not own my own home, so anything "riding" or an "umbrella" within is not possible.) i'm getting ready to place original oil paintings in vacant properties for staging (there is also an option to buy said work. not sure if this has any affect. laying out the picture.) 1. what kind of insurance do you all generally utilize with a vacant house. 2. who do you use?

It is a very big oil area near Houston and people come to work and leave a lot.

Dabble a bit in Oil and Petroleum.