While you aren't going to have investors, i.e. it is very unlikely but not impossible, that people will commit to a deal before you have identified one, you do want to grow your network of possible LPs and nurture them.  

There are thousands of these apartments in Hudson and Essex county and there simply isn't enough manpower to enforce them all and it may even be against their interests to do so. 

I've identified one in Macon, GA and it's less than a mile from the hospital. 

And I fumbled myself right into some amazing deals just simply walking around, knocking doors, talking to people. 

For many investors, an LLC acting as a Holding Company is going to offer the ability to manage the entity simply and provide limited liability protection.

catfiddle is the one I am talking about you simply cannot get materials to that lot without walking them in..

Have you found more expensive insurance is simply "the nature of the beast", or is there a better way my broker and I can go about keeping costs down on that side?

Create a simple spreadsheet or written list to compare the features of each and identify the ones that align with your requirements.

At times, we have simply went across the street when one lender said no or gave us a high quote. 

I've got one program that my fast flippers like for its 'no seasoning' requirement, and then a few 90-day seasoning programs that work really well also.Occupancy: some programs can refinance vacant properties, while others will simply need it to be leased prior to closing.