NY times did an expose on insurance company losses that should make you worry. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/13/climate/home-...

My last interaction with an agent was he was supposed to call us Monday at 10:00 a.m. about a property that was in the half million dollar range so a nice tidy sum for basically going and opening a door. 

As Dave “the expert” foster said.

Properties within driving distance offer several advantages:Hands-on management: You can personally handle issues like maintenance, repairs, and tenant interactions, which is invaluable when you're learning the ins and outs of rental management.Cost efficiency: Without needing to rely on a property manager from the start, you’ll save on fees.Faster response time: Being local means you're close enough to address emergencies or inspect the property as needed.Starting with a nearby property often leads to a smoother learning experience.

Quote from @Dave Foster: @Gabe H., When you do a 1031 exchange the basis of the old property is transferred to the new property. 

Obviously, a complete and well built website with interactive components and quality information that’s constantly update and optimized for particular keywords to show up on the first page of search engines (including YouTube) will bring in the MOST valuable leads.  

Additionally, cultivating a track record of successful projects can help negotiate better terms over time and foster trust with private money lenders.

From my experience buyers typically prefer these lots because they will not have any neighbors directly behind them.I can't tell from your question if there is an existing house built, that you are purchasing, or if you are buying a lot and going to build on it.Also, you should have access to an interactive flood plain viewer to look where the 100, 500 and zone X for the flood plain are situated.

I wanted to create a post to interact with other agents, investors, buyers, seller, etc..

Interact as little as possible.