So the new Harris County rules say that any rehab project in the 100 year flood plain needs to elevate the house unless the rehab budget is less than 50,% of the building/improvement value of the home.

This will be something that will take time and a good chance of you going through several people before finding the right one.Have solid interview questions and contacting their references are a must. 

I truly believe that Real Estste is the best chance that an average person such as my self has to building wealth.9 out of 10 Businesses fail in the 1st year & 9 out of those 10 that made it fail in 5 years!

In my experience a reasonable explanation builds you're credibility and lowers the chance of the other party being angry.

that's all I have done my entire adult life since I was first licensed at 18.. there is a difference in being a retail real estate sales person and using a license to further your investing goals.Its not an easy business by any means to be a retail agent and there is a high burn out rate.. not as high as wholesalers but its at least 50%...If your an ACTIVE investor I cant see how you can do without it.. if your fix and flipping in my mind its mandatory.its about 2k a year to keep sometimes less and If your business does not allow that or like some say the cost is to high then in my mind your not really in the business its a pittance to spend to have access to all the info and be in the club.if your goal is to be a lifelong landlord then work for a commercial brokerage that specializes in cash flow real estate just being there will open up doors.if by chance your very good at sales and have a very large warm market you may shock yourself in how much money you can make just in transactional real estate.. 

Hey bigger pockets, if you had a chance to go back in time and talk to your younger self and give them advice what would you tell you ?

Do you have access to private money by any chance?

That is especially true with the tax law change that went into effect this year; the standard deduction nearly doubled, so the taxes you save by itemizing might be much less than they were in the past (in other words, because you are getting a larger benefit through the larger standard deduction the "cost" of not having the mortgage interest deduction might be less).I can see an argument for there being better uses for your money than to pay off a mortgage with a 5.5% interest rate (if you can make an investment that pays at least 6% for example), but if your quality of life will improve because you paid off your debt and are now "financially independent" then that is what you should do.

Would they by chance be polybutylene? 

We have a chance of an off market opportunity, with income generated from bonus room and bathroom off garage.