I also make sure to specify in the lease agreement that I need proof of coverage before move-in and that the policy should name me as an “additional interested party.”

From my understanding, I need a Proof of Funds in order to get under contract. 

Down Payment + Closing Costs = Cash to Close.For your purchase contract, I'd have suggested an escalation clause requiring proof of next best offer upon acceptance.

With no proof required.  

Definitely do what it takes to add some sound proofing.  

Many markets saw a slight decrease in the 2024-2025 cycle.

On the other hand, I’m hesitant to simply pay down more of a property, as we don’t need the immediate cash flow.Fortunately, both my wife’s job and mine are recession-proof, which allows us to be a bit more aggressive with our investments.I’d really appreciate advice from investors who have experience with frequent moves or military service.

The yellowish brushed gold has had its cycle and has worked its way out.

You can pay for expediting for plan reviews and the best way to "expedite" beyond that is to make sure that your engineer / consultants are submitting complete packages each review cycle.

I think the whole point of holding a leveraged  good quality turnkey from a first-class team like Premier Properties/ REINation is to have your costs covered while your equity grows through a market cycle.