I’m trying to find a manager who also has knowledge of the surrounding areas, including Houston, Katy, Pearland etc for future properties.

The sacrifices you make today can have a magnificent impact on your future.

In my experience, most agents aren't going to be helpful here (some exceptions).You can ballpark these things after getting some data:Rent:  use the sites  you think you're future tenant will use to find you as a landlord (Zillow, Rent.com, a big property manager in your area, Craigslist) and look for similar places in similar neighborhoods. 

In considering my next move, I'd like to know what experienced investors think about the scale-ability, sustainability, and future of vacation rentals are!

Quite a few of the rent controlled units there, have tenants that were there since childhood so buying them out could become quite the costly endeavor.

Much success to you in your real estate investing endeavors.

I think I'll try to get my start a different way, but good information for the future.

I have friends from school who had it much better than he did and have completely blown their futures by this point (we are all in our young 30's).

Since I'll be paying cash for properties in the exchange, I'll have a decent amount of equity I can pull out for future investing. 

If not, then I just won't send properties her way in the future :) @John Thedford I have a real estate license.