Has anyone else experienced this kind of mistreatment? 

This has led to increased insurance costs for some homeowners, while others have been mistakenly zoned into high-risk areas despite never experiencing flooding.If you believe your property was incorrectly placed in a flood zone, you can:✅ Request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA): If your property is above the base flood elevation, you can apply for a LOMA to remove it from the flood zone designation.✅ Get an Elevation Certificate: A certified surveyor can assess the elevation of your home, and if it meets FEMA’s criteria, your flood insurance premiums could be significantly reduced.✅ Appeal with FEMA: If you have evidence that your home is at a lower flood risk than designated, you can file an appeal with FEMA to reclassify your property.4.

Since new builds require upfront capital, you might not see immediate returns, but lower maintenance costs and higher rents typically make up for it long term.If you're serious about scaling with BTR, make sure you connect with experienced builders, property managers, and lenders who understand the strategy.

Purchasing a “distressed” property and “repositioning” it requires significant capital for improvements, build outs, holding costs, maintenance.In looking for that “needle in a haystack” slam dunk great deal you’re competing with very knowledgable, greatly experienced investors with the cash to make no contingency offers and close in a few days.  

Are there any local meet ups or websites on where to find more people who have a moderate level of experience meaning they are  somewhat experienced but still looking to collaborate and network with more inexperienced investors like myself.

It's really important that you work with an experienced loan officer or broker, especially on a time sensitive purchase transaction.

If things get tricky, consulting a local attorney experienced in landlord-tenant issues can help you handle the situation properly.

Is your Realtor an experienced STR host (more than likely, no).

Regarding the payout inefficiencies, I remember the nightmare that some folks were experiencing with state unemployment benefits during Covid.

I wouldn't offer this to start with but these tenants may have difficulty getting out even if they want to be 100% cooperative.