The biggest advantage of using someone local to where you're buying is that they will understand taxes, insurance, and similar items very well when it comes to DTI/DSCR calculations and payment quotes, and they will likely have a local network of service providers for ancillary services (survey, inspections, etc).

Is your DSCR ratio greater than 1-meaning are you cash flowing (according to the lender's criteria of mortgage, property taxes and insurance (and HOA) if applicable).

My figures are below.TaxDeed Winning Bid: $489.00 (My Bid May 2013)Property Clean-up: $450.00 (mowing, trash removal)Taxes & Insurance: $80.00 (2013 & 2014)Sale Advertising: $130.00 (Signage, Newspaper Ads, etc)Filings & Legal Fees: $245.00 (Deed, Lien Releases, Sales Agreement Docs)Total Costs: $1395 (approx)Sold for: $3250.00 (August 2014)That is better than the 25% I would have received if the property was redeemed during the redemption period.

Now if you didn't refinance rented that unit out before living in it for a year and changed your insurance policy to a commercial one, that could be problematic (just to give an example). 

Your insurance is going to be highly variable and I wouldn't use what an agent or the seller tells you as the cost of dwelling policies have increased substantially over the past few years due to rising new construction costs. 

FHA rates are actually lower than conventional right now even though there is a monthly mortgage insurance it’s not much in most cases.

The Economic Development there is focused on building competitive regional talent, diversifying the regional economy, transforming Montgomery's image and building diverse community capacity.Major economic drivers to the area include Hyundai manufacturing, Maxwell & Gunter Air Force Base, major Amazon distribution, Alabama State Capitol, Alfa Insurance, Kinpak, H2 Pharma, Dollar General transport/logistics, Dow Chemical, and Conner Industries to name a few. 

This is public info and usually it will change based on seller being there a long time or something like an elderly tax rate.What are insurance costs like (we've got a lot of local variability around fire insurance for ex.)?

Technically, those sleeping over 12 built after 2016 are putting themselves in a legally liable situation if something happens as insurance companies may not cover them.

I am 22 Y/O with no bills aside from my car note/car insurance and my EZ pass tolls.