I want to be able to find potential markets/listings nationally based on the return. 

That may increase your cost or limit the coverage you can get.The Year that the following were updated (either partially or fully) would be good to know:- Heating systems- Roof- Plumbing- electricalSome companies will not write properties with systems that have not been updated.As long as you are living there, the proper policy for a 1-4 family is a "Homeowners" policy.

The justification for eminent domain would be the cost of defending the current set up, health costs and environmental cleanup costs. 

I have a pretty large emergency fund in place for those properties, but I wonder if that capital could be better employed elsewhere (potentially acquire another property).  

My father is a contractor so we will be able to complete most of the work ourselves while keeping costs low and add equity.

They have cost my business tens of thousands of dollars and countless wasted hours of follow ups and missed opportunities.

I've never done any Sacramento STR loans and only been hit up for one potential financing opportunity there.

We abated the walls, and that added $10,000 to our costs.

.: I’m currently renovating a rental property and exploring ways to manage costs without compromising on quality.

You would need to bring everything up to code currently and that's going to be cost prohibitive.