The mods may move this post Mongering Talk, which is probably where it belongs. But in the meantime, a few thoughts.
I hate punting in the US now. I used to rely heavily on The Erotic Review to try and assess escorts - I wouldn't see one that didn't have any reviews, I wanted to see at least a few reviews and I would even go as far as to see how many reviews the reviewer had posted (was it just for this girl?)
I tend to stick to AMPs in the US now and rely heavily on RubMaps - the advanced search will help you filter to places that offer more than a standard massage and you can usually tell what kind of place it is based on how many reviews the place has an what hours they're open (it they are open until 11 or 12 at night, it's a pretty safe bet that it's more than just a massage), but it isn't a guarantee, sadly.
I was talking to a girl recently where she suggested a few tips (mostly obvious):
1.) Don't talk about any sexual acts, ever. Not in email, text, phone, nothing.
2.) Don't discuss money, you can ask what the donation is, but that is it.
3.) Don't hand them money. Leave it an envelope in plain sight if it is outcall, or set it on a dresser or nightstand if you are doing incall, don't hand it to them directly.
I'm not sure Houston is any better or worse than any other US city, hopefully someone else on this forum can help answer that. Also, I keep hoping that more bros will report on the US here!
Wish I could be of more help here. Please report back if you do anything and share whatever what you learn!