It's the only way you'll get a good idea of what the market is really doing in your area, and keeps everyone competing to find the best coverage, deductibles, and premiums for your specific account.Hope this is helpful. 

There isnt any one magic "cheapest" loan - it will be highly specific to the deal.

Come up with a budget.

I want to preface this by saying I'm an absolute newbie when it comes to real estate investing, but the more books and resources I consume, the more I find myself gravitating towards commercial real estate, specifically hotels!

These can be great for making initial connections and learning about specific markets.Since you're thinking long-term, consider spending some time in your target markets to build relationships with agents, property managers, and contractors.

They might have insights on specific zip codes or pitfalls to avoid. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521

I do not have a specific credit score requirement.

I’m considering consulting an attorney to explore my options, but my budget is limited.

Numbers are very specific to the market you are looking at.  

.* Receipts and Expenses: Once I brought to Jenny's attention that we were 20k above budget, she refused for days to give me the receipts, saying that I needed to give her my credit card statement first.