In this case, am I still able to count the inspection fee as a capital loss, even though this expense occurred before I rented out my first property?

@Samantha SueroWelcome to Bigger Pockets.

AlbertoWelcome to bigger pocket. 

Meetup.com is a good resource for those but some of the groups will also post here on Bigger Pockets Marketplace too.

I struggle with that myself.Insurance broker - I can introduce you to a couple of great agents, but they are not on Bigger Pockets, so I cannot tag them.

The bigger cabins - not so much.

We lack the experience of you and your husband, but there are a couple of groups that meet regularly in the area.Impact Lindale is run by Roger Paschal, he is also a member of Bigger Pockets.

You can buy a luxury home in Florida for example for $1M to $1.5M bigger than a $2.5M home in CA.They make Hurricane Proof homes now so its not that bad if you plan a ahead.  

I believe it tends to give me a slightly lower return, because the sponsor is going to be more careful, and if there is a severe downturn will prevent me from taking catastrophic losses.

Find a local property management company that does the bigger cabins and they'll help you identify the right build choices to help maximize your rents.