If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

I'm assuming you have one lease covering both tenants and not individual leases.

I did a 1031 exchange for two C class townhomes I sold to one of my investor clients from the West coast.

You really don't need that LLC until you pay off the property and it's questionable if you need it then as long as you maintain your property and have correct insurance.Yes to wind insurance, not sure about hurricane.I use Foremost STR policy for one property.I am about to switch to USAA (retired Navy) for another because they quoted a policy that was 3k lower than what we have.

This means I can sell insurance from many carriers (not just one) and if I leave to go somewhere else, I take my clients with me so they don't get assigned an agent they don't know.

I know there are limits on how much you can deduct for each year but my guess is that you would be fine with only one rental.

I am a GP on one of their deals.

One thing that really helped me was getting out there and connecting with other investors.

But one tool that often gets overlooked in the wealth-building strategy is life insurance - and it can be a powerful asset for your real estate business. 

I guess I should have stay the heck out of this one LOL