Sadly, the federal government has chosen not to address this topic head on.  

Try to start finding your core four (deal finder, lender, contractor, and property manager) in your chosen market.2) Figure out your chosen strategy and jump in!

I don't think a crash will happen but a correction is definitely overdue, judging from the Markets you have chosen all of them are tier 2 markets with pretty solid rental yields, with interest rates being low and with your buy and hold strategy right now will be a pretty good time to buy.

I'm a bit weary of choosing a property that already has a tenant in place (section 8 tenant or not), because it always feels like a bit of a gamble.

Why have you chosen AZ or TX?

It shocked me that instead of saying "I don’t know about investing and I want to learn about it" they said "Real Estate won't work since the mortgages are crazy high so profits are not possible and the Stock Market is just a gamble".

As @Chrissy Arnold and @Jack Butala mentioned, marketing in the smartest and financially most efficient way possible will be your 80% activity in your chosen real estate strategy.

Right this minute, The Chosen One is making drastic changes that will make some businesses winners and some losers.

Will you be allowed an inspection period if your offer is chosen?

I am currently in a 5 year accounting program but real estate is the career path I have chosen.