I have worked in retail banking for the past five years and now I am a Food & Beverage manager. 

If you want you could try to go for a FHA and you live in one while you fix the other and then fix the one you are in while you are waiting the year you will need to refinance.Just food for thought.

But I'm hoping to grow from that but I want to make sure the growth is organic and I'm a bit conservative so I'm taking it slow. 

Few things:- Population growth- Job Growth- Landlord friendliness (aka not California)- Diverse industriesThose 4 things take out much of the country, but still do give quite a few opportunities.Sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census.gov, and other organizations like those.

Food for thought.

Looks like PROA sent this out to all its member organizations to forward to their members.

Bug infestations, moldy food, fridges full and electricity shut off, pets that have never been outside or had a litter box, you name it.My folks got burned so much they gave it up. 

Looking not only for advice on how to landlord/manage the property myself, what books to read, tools to use to collect rent, organize, etc.. but also any recommendations for increasing rents/structuring contracts up to where I am wanting them ($625-650).

Remove your personal things like clothing, shoes, firearms and perishable food. 

Section 101.601(a) of the Business Organizations Code (BOC) authorizes the establishment of Series LLC's in the the state of Texas, but there is a provision in the code that some people overlook.