I have been looking at a few potential opportunities in Newton but have been hesitant only since I don't know much about the dynamics of Newton.Also, I should have an official investor group established within the next month or so.

During the Monday morning hours is probably your best chance to catch their attention and the rest of the week to call to action.  

I don't know enough about 15-yr old (Steam, i believe) boilers to know whether or not I'm about to get rooked.Richard, I'm categorically disinterested in DIY in this case, so rest easy.  

Putting the minimum down and using the rest to renovate.

The people who can look past the unfinished state can,  for the rest the smell of cookies, towels in the bathroom and little touches make a difference. 

@Cecil Russell Using a Lease to own to own method is a harder process than most of the rest of the country because of Texas law.

They've done it before more than once where someone gets a, for lack of a better term, bug up their butt about the new landlord making a big purchase and they'll want to let them know that even if the rest of the block isnt the greatest, that they want you to know they still enforce the codes and being from out of town, Chicago none the less, makes it even more likely.

Eventually I hope to be doing this enough to make enough money to justify setting up an official business for it.

You have to weigh the cost of utilities vs the potential for rent for the rest of the month.

However, if it's anything like a lot of the rest of the country, you're going to struggle to find a flow of deals via the MLS.