I wish I had only realized the powerful tools there were available to me as a service member earlier in my career.First, don’t discount HI immediately Yes, it is a tough market, but you have some advantages including this forum.

My main focus is to have more buying power and speed when shopping deals... and i want to buy apartments. someone please help!!!!!

If the powers that be lower Texas property taxes, don't be too surprised if a legislative session or two later they hike your income taxes in this great great shell game that is "who do we tax and how do we tax them to pay for the stuff we want?"

Ahh the power of BP!

Power the notes down, pull equity and buy more.  

As Charlie mentioned, the bank will take into account 75% of the projected rents of the property and add that # to your income which will increase your purchasing power (I wouldnt be surprised if you could get pre-approved for a price in the $400s or $500s, although I dont know your full profile including credit and income). 

I have also accumulated $3k worth of tools.I'm also figuring the power of depreciation is not as great as deducting in the current year as depreciation recapture will take place in the event the house is sold down the road. 

I had the honor of going on the Powered by Podio Podcast, hosted by someone I think is changing EVERYTHING for real estate investors in terms of systems.

It is a simple, scalable, and very powerful method in learning the ins-and-outs of building a team, finding and buying a property, property management, adding value to the property, etc, without having to assume a lot of risk of losing money.

Depending on how much rent you are missing out on it might make sense to pay $100-150/mnth for landscaping, power wash, touch up paint until you get the tenants you need and then cut him off.