As a Banker I have watched the housing market cool off Nationwide and rates come down.

Congrats on saving up that's an amazing start.I would suggest holding off on flipping if you don't want to do it near you, although with $250k, you probably could find something even in California that you could flip, we hear horror stories from our clients all the time of how they hired a contractor but were not able to watch progress and fly in 2 months later to see almost no work done and most of the money spent.  

I watched a video about house flipping, and he said to secure a property before a hard money and gap lender.

I doubt he ever recovered it.Another growing fraud to watch for?

May be able to google too.Most wholesale carpet stores will quote you a lot less than the guys advertising on TV and with big fancy showrooms but know there is still room to negotiate but may take you purchasing several times so that the salesman realizes you are a return customer.

One day my roommate and I helped them move in a tv and in their apartment they had inflatable couches, the tv we were installing, beds, and a tanning bed, that's just about it. 

Are there specific things I should watch out for when dealing with insurance companies in Florida?

Trying to stay at arms length (close to relative type deal) but want to watch over an elderly person.

Are you going to sit next to your accountant and watch that she does not take any breaks?

While I am absolutely looking from afar right now, I have been watching this area for a couple of years and as a city they seem to be making steps in the path of progression.