The marketer (guru) severely understates the amount of capital, time, and knowledge needed to produce successful results.And the above mentioned are the BEST case; not even mentioning the guru strategies that are fraudulent, illegal, unethical, and plain not realistically achievable.  

This deal highlights the power of well-executed renovations and a strong partnership in achieving impressive profits.

Or do I look into a market like Las Cruces, NM, or Lubbock, TX, as an example of bigger markets I have looked at and am somewhat familiar with?

From my experience, you can use that savings to house hack with an FHA loan, invest in a turnkey property in a more affordable market, or even partner with others to expand your purchasing power.

Utilities included.Fully rented.For sale off market.

Markets like Texas (San Antonio or Dallas) or North Carolina (Charlotte) could offer better cash flow with lower costs.

Any advice on potential MTR markets near Houston and surrounding areas?

how is rental market in that area these days? 

Ask them if they'd mind sharing their experience with you.. if they'd recommend the area or not, and lastly if they could maybe send you a P/L sheet to see their income, expenses etc.You might run into some hosts that aren't responsive or any help, but it just takes a few people to share insight to get a good idea of the market you're dealing with.

Here are the markets I’m exploring:St.