This financial strategy allowed for timely project execution and ensured that the necessary resources were available to complete the renovations.

I think that if they’ve invested, either monetarily or emotionally in a particular “money making” system, then they can’t handle any negative information about the “system”, methodology and or strategy that they’ve emotionally and or monetarily invested in.  

Basically they are a type of insurance and insurance companies make HUGE profits because they pay out MUCH LESS than they take in meaning that over the long term you will lose money with them.

If you're able to, start networking at local Milwaukee real estate meetups---this is the very best education and inspiration that you will ever find--I started real estate by signing up for a guru program but by far, my best education came from speaking to other active local investors who are actually doing deals or have built financial freedom---the nationwide guru program only taught about flips and rentals but there are so many different strategies that locals have and are successfully doing.

Just look at your insurance policy, if you have insured the duplex for replacement value (and not for cost) it will show something like 400-500k. 

I am also working with this lender and they are requesting lender private mortgage insurance to be wired to them prior to closing. 

Does anyone have some baseline home owners insurance numbers that I could use for my evaluations?

That held me back for same time as well but once you select your exit strategy and build your team you will be off to the races! 

Sticking to one strategy is always going to yield the best results then branching out from there may be best.

I've operated MTRs in several markets and have seen 75-80% occupancy on MTRs that can't be rented as STRs due to regulations (ie we don't rent them as a hybrid MTR / STR strategy).