Mostly due to the fact my spouse and I agreed on her to have zero involvment in any sort of RE investing (and its our home) I think once you have a good 6-12 months of reserve cash (operating expenses for your own life saved as a back up incase things go bad) save enough liquidity to get the ball rolling on your first invesment.

I’ve read the Bigger Pockets book on long-distance real estate and am eager to get the ball rolling. 

If they are low balls then usually you are asking someone to work for free as the fix and flip landscape is competitive for a low pay out.

We are fortunate to take on a lot of doors from local PMCs who drop the ball, and invariably, poor communication is near the top of the list for complaints. 

Hey @Josh Ball, so unique for unique's sake could be hit or miss.

The flood insurance has also been extremely unpredictable at any of these beaches, so that's a bit of a curve ball.

I would contact an attorney to get the ball rolling and see what's next

They have dropped the ball on me and my businesses many countless times in the last year or so.

You have to weigh the benefit of the insurance claim payment versus potentially having your carrier cancel you and perhaps get black-balled by the insurance industry.

Quote from @Charles Evans: You are actually behind the 8-ball on this.