Given this freedom, what are the best general areas (north, south, southeast, etc.) to start looking at properties within my price point?

Especially when we are going the extra mile to make sure people feel comfortable coming to our area.

It seems like the price:rent ratio is more favorable (I can't buy a duplex in a 50 miles radius for less than 500k and it rents for 3k total)Which lender has been your favorite to work with?

If your property is 5 miles either side of HWY 35 from San Antonio to Dallas you should have little problem finding tenants.  

Many people are moving to Florida as well as the southeast.

That's about 2 miles down the road from where I live. 

The east/southeast

We are a city of 118k people across about 50 sq miles.

Robinson I find that the deals are in newly gentrifying areas like south east Fort Worth, or on the outskirts of town, like Rhome.

However, I can guarantee you 20 miles away (or less) I can find a similar product offered for much more and maybe some for even less.Supply and demand 101: charge what the market will bare.