Let me know if you'd like to chat.

Perhaps you have coverage for the replacement value BUT the insurance company when calculating the replacement property uses modern building materials like drywall but your original house had plaster which is much more expensive.

There's a standard syndication that goes out to sites like Zillow, Redfin etc that is included when it is listed in the MLS; hence why people can find properties from across the country. 

There are best practices on certain items that provides a guidelines.Commissions are always negotiable like any other services, you can shop around for the best value for money.All depends on the risks that you are willing to take.

Stop being nomadic) I'd like to buy again.

It’s like you bought the properties with a 30 year loan and are putting the rest in to a savings account.

Your local county/city has most likely adopted the international building code as most do.  

Quote from @Daniel Tanasa: Hello Terry, If you're looking to find houses that are in pre-foreclousure you can use a website like www.foreclosure.com and you can get the list of properties and start marketing to them. 

Looks like there is no one from Allentown here at BP Hendrix.

This doesn't seem like a great ROI for a $900k investment.