I am not super familiar with the Houston market at least not from a real estate perspective, I believe I have heard its strong, but really someone from the area would have a better handle than myself.In the short term, I know its taken a little bit of a hit from the drop in oil.

No tax liens in Texas ....we are a tax deed state.All kinds of risks....you really want yo know what you are buying....Risk of taxes not covered by the suit.Risk of other liens...Risk of condition...typically you don't get to see inside first.Environmental risks...meth...oil changers ...underground storage tanks...Notification risks....relatives or owners sue you because the county or attorneys did not properly notify them.Title insurance....resale ...marketability risk.  

Even worse than working with an individual bookkeepers, these outfits will insist that they have their "systems" well-oiled and will refuse any adjustments.

Simply painting garage walls in a semi-gloss white & cleaning oils stains off the floor say "this house was nicely maintained" and are among the cheapest things you can do after removing trash & mowing the lawn.One under your belt at least gives you a more "legit" standing with lenders, contractors, etc, on the next one.

I heard that Alberta is more cyclical and oil-dependent?

Now there is more oil there than the middle east.

He claims that they forgot to includes charges for a tank if fuel oil at the closing.

Here's a primer:The two basic kinds of paint of oil-based and water-based.

I have had to answer the infamous late night roof leaking phone calls, and dealt with: leaking toilets, leaking water mains, faulty electrical panels, broken water heaters, broken furnaces, underground oil tanks, troublesome septic systems, late rents, tenants dog eating the walls, unresponsive tenants and every other real or imagined rental horror story that people who are either too afraid or unwilling to, use as an excuse not to invest.

The economy is more cyclical and is too reliant on oil & gas, and the clock is ticking for that industry.