I would thank him for his feedback and share that you made a business decision that is mutually beneficial (https://www.avail.co/education/articles/should-you-collect-r...scroll down towards the bottom of the page to see the comparison) which includes providing the tenant with a receipt and rent reminders.  

Wow, this was a great article

I have read some articles that say assessments are up about 20 % .

It's a far better starting point for a new investor slowly growing a portfolio.You can learn more about that here on a Bigger Pocket Podcasts and here, and here is an article on it too. 

If you want something that looks nice Article and Castlery have some great looking stuff without breaking the bank too bad ($2-3K range).

An article from The Mortgage Reports explains:“The amount you need to put down will depend on a variety of factors, including the loan type and your financial goals.

You are referring to this article?

Here's an article that you may find helpful.

Linking to a blog on a random insurance agency is not useful.The landlord has no interest in the property being insured which are the tenants belongings.  

https://natlawreview.com/article/texas-federal-court-issues-nationwide-injunction-against-enforcement-corporate