I was told by a local experienced investor that insurance companies will always go cheap with paying out to contractors in the event a property needs to be rebuilt. 

If you hire someone typically they are the ones providing this information, but if someone is paying you, then yes they need this information for tax purposes.BTW - I would say your SS# has been hacked so many times and is on the black market already this is why we monitor ours through other parties or just lock it down at experian and other agencies if you are concerned about it.

But really you’re just creating a second job for yourself and one that doesn’t pay very well if it even is cash flow positive at all 😆I used to buy houses for STR but now that I’ve got several STRs up and running that I bought many years ago, I stopped buying STR once mortgage rates went up and housing prices went up.

If you have the stomach for it and understand the big picture it pays off. 

I understand I'd take a pay cut being an agent for the first few years, but in exchange, I'd be learning about the market and building a network as I move towards Commercial multifamily.

Instead of paying into someone else’s property, you could be using that allowance to finance your own real estate investment.In Germany, you have access to a stable market with long-term growth potential, and U.S. service members and government civilians have unique advantages here.

Now, you need to figure out how to find deals and pay for them.

Or paying off my debt, while I provide them with a nice house to live in instead of an apartment. 

I think having foreign pay stubs and the fact that I own property here with a mortgage made them decide it's too much of a headache.  

We pay $850 for a WH install, so, that seems high but you are in CA.