Then during the summers I go to Europe twice for 3-4 weeks.  

There are also a number of real estate investors in the area to help out (myself included) we usually host monthly meet ups but with the summer it is a bit more difficult.If you have questions let me know.http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingMike

I will hopefully start investing in RE 2 years from now (so spring/summer 2016) Now here is my plan.1.

I am probably deploying next summer so I hope to seek to purchase something when I return in the late fall/winter 2015. 

Early/ late summer?

Welcome @Josh Mitchell I have a few SFR in the Chicago suburbs too and am looking to buy 3-4 more this summer.

Not knowing anything about Texas and your weather (except I know it gets HOT in summer) what is the rainfall there like in winter, will you have a lot of delays?

While I might have $100/mo. in winter electric bills, I also have air conditioning requirements during the summer months, so it's probably $50 in summ.

Leave well enough alone, and take your significant other out for a great dinner to celebrate once you close.Regarding the timing to have them sign.. some of these asset managers at FNMA have hundreds of listings, and they have not been very quick in my experience.

Having just gone through a problem with a serious infestation last summer, I will tell you it is better to just hire a professional.