I thought we would be doing much more business with them but the middle guy (James Mercantile) is telling me they do not do multi properties any longer?

Upper middle and middle tier is competitive but not saturated in a lot of markets, because its harder to get into those price points.

The reason is the rent-to-price ratio is good so you can cash flow, and most of the West side doesn’t have a Point of sale inspection, like the East side, which is really annoying 

Any referrals to a bank or loan officer in Central/ East Dallas?

You’ll likely pay a bit more upfront, but you get rental income rolling quickly without the stress of managing a rehab.Cosmetic rehab → A great middle ground.

Middle TN is such a strong market right now.

They’re sturdy but often need updates to plumbing, electrical, or roofing, so factor that into your reno budget.Build types; brick homes tend to be more durable with fewer long-term exterior issues, but frame homes are common and generally easier/cheaper to repair.Target areas; west side and certain pockets of the East Side are popular for BRRRR strategies, but investor-friendly zip codes vary based on your renovation budget and tenant class preferences.

Average rent is, I think, reasonable for middle-class people.

If you die and get caught in the middle of a BRRRR, development, etc your property is worth Pennys.  

I even had one trigger just from heat (not humidity) in a vacant second floor unit in the middle of the summer.My solution has been to ensure those conditions are not created in these spaces, whether than means opening a window in the basement and using a box fan in the summer, or cracking open leeward windows on the second floor (in a manner to prevent water intrusion during heavy rain) on opposite ends of the building to create a bit of airflow in the summer.Lastly, I'll throw this out there in the category of "trust, but verify" - are you absolutely sure this is not tenant caused?