Without understanding your market, economic drivers in the community, supply and demand, growth and declining areas, valuation methods and common practices, you can't really choose the best niche, you'll be guessing and may well fail after spending your money chasing pipe dreams.

They are the first to complain if the plow driver is 5 minutes late or if the hot water seems to take longer to heat today.

In fact, in most areas, it is the major driver.

Also, there are markets with a high percentage of Section 8 tenant which may drive rents.

Flexibility in how much dwelling coverage you can (or must) get is a key driver of cost along with the deductible and additional coverages (like lost rent, damage from water leaks, etc).Many investors get an Umbrella policy ($1-3M additional liability coverage) over a group of properties (or all of them) in addition to the liability coverage they have per property. 

Seems unlikely though since he is a truck driver and hard to track down.

But I do ask for a Driver's License and Social Security Card (not just a number).

They needed bank statements, drivers license,and a copy of our EIN docs.  

All it takes is one tree or drunk driver to knock out the entire line!

Get a copy of everyone drivers licences.