I would like to be confident in a way forward before spending $750 / per appraisal for them to come back low. 

The more units, the better protection you have on break even occupancy.

In spending a few hours on Zillow, I've found a few neighborhoods in Dallas (and some in San Antonio) that meet that criteria.

Some specializations within real estate include:Transactional (closing attorney)Landlord/tenant/eviction attorneyAsset protection (setting up LLCs and trusts, and advising on the best structure)Commercial real estate (Includes negotiating leases and P&S)Contractor/construction attorneyPerhaps you want to fill us in on exactly what you're looking for?

I have even heard very smart asset protection attorneys who have their clients take out debt on properties for this very reason. 

Does being grandfathered in help to protect you at all if you choose to rent?

My cost to the tenants is $50 per wall that they'd like painted, and I tell them my painters need to do it for liability reasons + to protect them from getting charged to paint it back to it's original color at the end of their tenancy.

Ignored people are not a protected class, but Family is a protected class.

@Ryan Wilkerson If I only had $2k per month in budget, I would spend it on google adwords.

I don't think bedbug carrier is a protected class.