What's the best path forward where I lose the least and give myself the best advantage? 

what are Disadvantages and Advantages of each of these and which one do you recommend?

I am really looking at the advantages of being able to look at property more quickly and write my own offers.I know there are costs involved with getting and maintaining the license.  

I think that telling them too far in advance takes away any advantage that I have as far as timing, but I don't want to get sucked into another year long lease with early termination fee's for moving into my newly purchased property.

I am really looking at the advantages of being able to look at property more quickly and write my own offers.I know there are costs involved with getting and maintaining the license.

You have an advantage in that your family will look over your Texas rental (saves you the 6%-10% property management fee). 

The IRS already makes buy-and-hold tax advantaged by default, without you doing anything but filling the forms out.

@Todd Krzeminski I cha he an $80 MTM fee, but I also put in writing that it can only be for xxxx amount of management baths, if not they just take advantage and stretch it out for their convenience.

They were really taking advantage of this nice, old guy and he just didn't know what to do.

Should we take advantage of the de minimis safe harbor election on repairs vs improvements?