Looks like biting the bullet and getting an engineer may be my best bet.

We’re working in a smaller market like Cornelia, GA, where comparable sales data can be limited, and want to make sure we present a strong case to lenders.

Our manager also helped and encouraged us to limit our repairs/spending based on the area we are in and the type of property.

Leverage the Power of LLCsEstablishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) for your real estate investments can offer both legal protection and tax benefits.

For added liability protection, consider setting up an LLC for the rental, though this may have limited impact if the mortgage is in your name.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

The Midwest is probably your best bet for a number of reasons.

Most credit collection agencies are limited to sending demand letter for an initial fee of $200 to $240.

My recollection is (and insurance experts on BP can correct me if my memory is wrong), but most insurers will only pay "replacement cost"  policy limits, if you actually replace the damaged property.

Information including but not limited to: - Median Sale prices for different property types (SFR, MFR, Condo/HOA, etc.)- Average days on market- Absorption rate- Historical data on rents and sale prices in the area- Population growth- Main economic drivers (industries, individual companies, etc.)- Crime stats... if you know specific zip codes/submarkets that you'd like to target, the best data will come from local precincts. - and more..I'd recommend remaining active not only here on BiggerPockets, but in other valuable RE investment networks that you can find - i.e. local meetups (meetup.com, eventbrite, BP local events). 

2) I bet you could draw that same or even more extreme graph for new car prices.