I would think that Houston would be perfect for a heat pump in winter.The bigger question, in my opinion, is how does the heat pump perform in our hot, humid summers.

Nobody can get to a hot deal quicker then yourself!

I am really not too worried, I am in a 1% vacancy market in a very 'Hot' area of town.As I was leaving the property last night, I see a cat in the window.  

If ventilation is a concern and you need vents than this could be a good solution for you as it opens when it is hot and closes when it is cold while still protecting against flood and rodents. 

Go back and verify that the Neutral and Hot are not crossed - - This WILL ruin equipment which has a three pronged cord and gets mated to a two prong outlet via a converter.Any hardware store can provide an outlet polarity tester ~$7-$8

You may want to find out how old the equipment is in the place ( hot water heaters, furnaces) and even the age of the roof

You won't be able to get a conventional loan, and may require a 203K, but I'm starting to see that's the best option in this hot market.

I have it listed at what the comps suggest, its a hot neighborhood, and now mine is the cheapest listing in the section.  

As a hard money lender in the Hot Springs area I have done some deals in Little Rock and North Little Rock.

It’s definitely a hot area.