Numbers are a little tight so I'm hoping to get an offer soon.

- Do I need a different insurance than the residential income property insurance?

If you consistently show up and participate, someone will take notice and may offer to let you tag along to learn.

I agree with all your reasons to offer SF as a seller, just research what methods of conveyance your state has available which offers more seller protections.If I just had a regular note and DofT I don't know if I'd do it. 

Best bet is to contact your trusted lender or other financial institutions to compare offers to find the best interest rates and terms that suit your investment strategy.  

Homeowner's and flood insurance can be considerably lower than in other coastal areas, especially in comparison to States with prohibitive property insurance markets such as Florida.

Currently met lender  who offers extremely good terms. 7% int only split over 2 years.

Getting your license, or learning another industry within RE — mortgages, insurance, property management, etc — will help you build a career and connections, as well.

We have an LLC registered but haven't had much activity in it, so I was always thinking of starting a small-scale Real Estate Consulting where we could offer the afore-mentioned services for a minimal fee.

First, I'm not a lawyer and under no circumstances offer legal advice.