I have a pretty good idea on my plan of action getting into real estate but ignorance is bliss and I wanted to ask to see if I'm missing anything.

I have never been to Texas but am planning on making a trip to check the area out.

The American Dream is the American Dream because it takes some time, effort, sacrifice, and planning to get there. 

I was also planning on paying cash for remodel but fix and flip supposedly includes this in their package? 

As far as I know, you will have to allow the city to inspect any unit you plan on renting once every 3 years or with any change in occupancy to obtain a certificate of habitability, as described here: https://ecode360.com/4243371This registration requirement is indeed new.

I'm also in Tucson, and I plan on doing something very similar.

I did pay myself a salary last year and plan to do so again, but I won't be able to produce the standard, "...last two pay slips" type of documentation that normal conventional lenders want. 

Personally I’m building a 3/2 1200 sq ft in Durham we plan to sell near the regional hospital at 425k which would be a good rental(mid or short).

I find the deals, negotiate the deals, plan and oversee the rehab, get supplies, coordinate for utilities, and have did a lot of rehab work on the properties over the years.

I can't stress enough how often I see investors go all in for the fix and flip loans, but fail to property plan ahead for the perm loans.