(I realize this varies widely based on location, size of home and a multitude of factors - I'm looking only for a ballpark average)2) I'm curious if there are any certain insurance companies you've had particularly great success with regarding homeowner's insurance on a rental (great rates, good offerings, etc)?

I don't like laminate for a multitude of reasons.

There is safety in a multitude of counselors then ultimately do what you believe to be best.Step 6.

Requires swiftness, creativity, and a good agent that can help seperate your offer from the multitude of others (if finding on market deals).You definitely have a better chance breaking into the higher end flip market (distressed purchase $400k+).

One overlooked way to find great potential opportunities is for your team realtor to seach daily for "back on market" better known as TFT transactions ( transactions fell through) This is where the  transaction  or sale of a home, for a multitude of reasons, falls out of contact and comes back on the open MLS market.

Despite having heard and read a multitude of success stories over those years, that investment became quite the horror show.

The zoning allows for a multitude of income producing uses (B&B where I could convet the guest house to 4 rentable rooms, a wedding venue which would require adding a barn) Agri-trourism uses with roadside stand, Christmas tree farm/lot, Vineyard, Vacation Rental, etc.

The Texas Triangle has a multitude of economic drivers fueling growth and investors have a tremendous amount of options.

the reality lies in the quality of the new investment, the ongoing expense of the old investment, the prognosis for the market, the old investment, and the new investment, the specifics of the new loan and the multitude of x factors. 

There are a multitude of different issues that could arise that may either push closing out further than expected or the home may end up having issues that are out of your control (although we hope that wouldn't happen).