I hope this helps!

I'll make a long story as short as possible:> House built in 2008, first owners used husbands VA loan to secure (220k loan), stopped paying HOA and bank shortly thereafter (current payoff 500k+). SCRA protections p...

Toward the end of the year, we started seeing a big uptick in down payment assistance loan failures (2nd position loans under $10k to help with down payments that were in default.

How would you use real estate to help pay off student debt?

Someone said ZILLOW is not recommended (not sure why)Help much appreciated.

Similar with a SFH: I can at least get in the market with a 5% conventional loan not expecting cash flow but hoping appreciation will help me out in the next 2+ years and I will at least be able to put up the remainder of the expenses since I do live with my parents.

The why will help you adjust course so that you can learn what you need to do to qualify - either for a different property, or in the future. 

Perhaps, you have a recommendation on a local (Houston) real estate agent that can help me locate tenants/roommate? 

Yes, injecting a lot of out-of-state/foreign capital is great and certainly will help boost the economy.

Similar with a SFH: I can at least get in the market with a 5% conventional loan not expecting cash flow but hoping appreciation will help me out in the next 2+ years and I will at least be able to put up the remainder of the expenses since I do live with my parents.