You can really mess people up not doing it....and you're in Texas where your word is your bond, it is your reputation. 

property taxes = figure about 1.25% of purchase price. 1% for prop tax and the other approx. .25% for voter approved bonds like school bonds and other fixed charge assessments.

I am a former corporate CEO of several corporations including insurance, contractors bonding, oil, motion picture, property management, real estate loans, investing, mining in W.

It is like pulling teeth to get the city to issue permits to repair it.

Depending on your income, you may qualify for bond money programs, but not sure if they will help for investment properties, but you may want to check.

Others may want stamped drawings, contractor registration with fees, proof of insurance, bonds, ect.Once I tried to get a building inspector to take a look at a project and tell me what needed to be corrected, they wouldn't step foot in the property until I had my permits in hand.

How about pulling the money out and investing in bonds that are easily traded on the open market?

I personally like to have the people call our office so we have a chance to bond with them.

I haven't been on that side of it for awhile as I am doing the transactional side now versus construction but maybe some of the TAD funds and bonds, grants have come back into play.

Everybody who falls down needs a good kick in the teeth to get them going.