I have not used an agent before, and I've heard mixed things about that.My personal strategy has been to make up small business cards or flyers and then have somebody place those in the areas where my tenants are likely to be, such as local grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants, and so on.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:Attend Local meetings: Look for seminars, networking events, and meetings focused on real estate investment in the Houston region.

I would start to see if your local high school, middle school etc have any teachers or people teaching business.

If you are planning on living in the property as your primary, you can request to terminate the lease as you will be taking possession for owner occupy, but confirm with a local real estate attorney on the specific verbiage and process as it varies by state. 

Hey Latonya, accepting out of state vouchers can increase your tenant pool and potentially increase your rental income, but it also introduces complexities like verifying voucher validity with distant agencies, dealing with unfamiliar local resources for the tenant and navigating potentially different eviction procedures in another state.

Join your local REIA and get with like minded people.

Varies on the laws of the state you are doing business in, demand, and local zoning laws.1.

Join Local Real Estate Groups, 2.

You may need to consider looking at a local commercial bank. 

I live in San Diego and am interested in investing locally to be a little more hands on while I am learning.