For example, I have been informed from a couple of banks that even though my current Airbnb totally offsets the mortgage, they will not take the income from the property towards the DTI calculations but rather take the gross income from the Taxes filed and consider the mortgage amount as an expense, which was hard to understand.

Online Rent Payment (please tell me you still don't collect rent in person).

Since we are total amateurs, we don't which way is better (either get a property for short term or invest that extra cash .Any help will be appreciated!

Agreed value:  The insured and the Insurance company agree on the value of the Building in the event of a total loss.  

Instead look at the total return and rank them that way for a more comprehensive list of your properties. 

I've been searching online to try and figure it out, but a crime map will only tell you so much. 

Did you mean to say that everything is online and you have to send actual statements for them to keep?  

Along with total amount borrowed, cash flow, length of time in business, business practices, Interpersonal skills and what makes up your assets, Etc...Good Luck!

Do you want full replacement cost if you had a total loss - would you rebuild in that case or walk away? 

In NC you can act as your own GC if the total project cost is less than 40k.