And the potential is that you will live for free and generate additional income each month.I think the biggest roadblock you will face in taking that route will be the bug that bites most homebuyers that they feel they have to buy their dream home right now. 

And I probably know exactly the thoughts, challenges, questions, and information overload, etc. that you might be feeling and experiencing right now.And I know the "iceberg" and the "elephant" seem very daunting right now.What helped me go from buying a duplex to buying 100+ unit deals is boiling down this business into 2 simple things, Deals and Dollars.I share more of this approach in a thread if you want to read, I quit my CPA Job to buy Large Apartment BuildingsTo summarize though, the road ahead for you will most likely have many twists and turns, challenges and setbacks.

Getting into my first deal has been challenging, but I'm forging ahead.  

Subcontracting allows you to manage risk and hold someone else accountable to schedules and regulatory compliance.But subcontracting will not allow you to get cheaper pricing.3) If you're not an expert in construction project management, hire a general contractor who is. 4) Contractors are facing major labor shortages right now.5) The best construction crews have worked together for a while.

I know my journey will probably be long and hard but I haven't felt this passionate about anything like this in my life, so I'm ready for the challenges and rewards. 

I'm excited about the challenges to come and the stories to tell.

Good luck getting into this challenging but exciting market!

I did try to challenge a higher reassessment this year on two of my properties and they just said that if I paid x amount, the properties must have been worth it and assessments should reflect that. 

Sounds like you have great conviction in the cause, that will help you out when you hit any challenges or bumps in the road.

Yes, more challenging to find value but the trend is still solid in TX markets.I would do the following:1) Education - read up on MF investing (books, BP podcasts focused on apts, MF forums, etc).