As for the tailoring your investment to the market, some markets may be better for buy and hold or flips like you said, but even within those categories there are a lot of sub markets.  

As always, check with a CPA in whom you can confide your full situation and intentions in order to get advice specifically tailored to you and your situation.

Just know what your market is looking for in a SFH and tailor the rehab to them. 

Since most of my experience in this area is theoretical in, I'd really appreciate it if someone could address the practical aspects of company/corporate ownership vs. personal ownership even if just done briefly and not tailored specifically to Alabama law.

I don't want to get stuck with just one lender offering this program and then have to be beholden to their quirks and monoply interest rates.a) You can always plan your comps and tailor your comps (solds, pendings, listed, etc) to the type of rehab and price you paid for your property.

Talk to your insurance agent.Tell him you have your first rental and want a home owners policy tailored for this purpose.Every landlord I know who has been in the business for any length of time has a 1 million dollar umbrella policy.

Does the seller really mean no business <full stop> or did he envision someone running a moderate traffic business (i.e. hair salon, tailor) or home-based auto-body shop in his front yard?   

I believe Kigo is the most cost effective, as it is tailored to smaller VR management companies, and the rest of the software platforms target legacy VRM's who are looking for software. 

I've seen mailers where the information tailored to me was 3-5 years old, even addressing legal entities that were surrendered (ie closed). 

This one is tailor-made for you :)Joshua - read the post, comments, and article linked very carefully.