buy it and live in it for a 1 year. get roommates to help you pay for it. my buddy rented his place out, even converted the garage to a room for a while.  

If his roommate is not holding up his end of the bargain, he should encourage his roommate to move out and find a new roommate that can. until then, explain that they are both equally responsible for the entire rent regardless of which one is not pulling their own weight.

she is essentially your roommate in.

or adding a room mate?

Much of the appreciation in Houston has already happened but if you can get a 4 bedroom house and have roommates cover the whole mortgage, or get a duplex and do the same, you'll be in a good spot.

My current room mate lived there for 3 years and said in the summer everyone leaves.

It has a college in it so there are plenty of rental props to snatch up, and many are at below market prices because Daddy buys the house when kiddo is in college then rents it out to him and a couple roommates then 3 years later needs to sell.

I do not want to deal with room mates, which is why i plan to rent a apartment until i can find a deal i'm happy with.  

Get a roommate, eat beans and rice and stack that cash! 

Well, you haven't explained your mortgage payment or rental rates for a roommate and whole unit rental.- How many rooms are you renting out and at what price?