Josh,If you find a reliable answer, I'm interested. 

I am looking for any suggestions of where to start looking for reliable rental property insurance.

The power grid is much more reliable in Ohio.

I plan to manage the property myself but am looking for professionals to help fill my unit with reliable tenants and take them through the contract phase. 

Good luck finding reliable cleaners to do the turn.   

The most reliable method to discover local regulations is by visiting county websites and calling their offices for confirmation.

You need to have criteria designed to protect your money, and a reliable method of determining value.In my opinion, appraisals are not necessarily a reliable method of determining value, so staying within your own market area to start with can also protect your capital because it's easier to know value next door than across the country.

Most don't have the time, skill, bandwidth, energy or tools to do REI themself, but they may have capital, and together we can.

I think that is important.Your #1 (and #2,3,4, 5,6) challenge will be keeping reliable housekeeping and repairs/maintenance folks. 

Did you have a more reliable place to source a VA?