Sante in these situations IF, IF you take it on you reduce your offer heavily to the bank on the REO.If the bank wants a premium and to dump a problem then move on to another property.

Go down on walls about 2 inches so you cover well.Done with ceilings you can border tape so wall paint doesn't overspray with the 12" paper type tape with sticky edge,,Walls next, cut in the edges of ceiling and corners of walls, by hand, then spray, after sprayed have someone go behind you with a roller and with textured walls this will work well, wet the roller with paint first and then you'll hardly have to wet it again..Trim and doors next.If your painting the trim like in a whole house I usually would recommend doing all Ceilings and then the trim next.. especially if it's bare floors.. sand, prep and spray, first remove all door hardware, hinges, and back tape the windows so you first put a layer of tape around the edges of the glass, then you cut plastic and tape the plastic to the tape that's already on the glass. your not taping it to the wood or vinyl edge but basically sealing off the glass.

My contractor built a wood stairway entrance to the top unit and I'm concerned my tenant will be trapped if there is a fire. can I put metal stairs near a window as an emergency fire escape?

for NFIP I think that is true  but that doesnt mean you can't make your deductibles higher (which lowers premium) and  reduce or cancel contents coverage (am I not 100% sure about cancelling so I would ask someone) 

Get an agent that will pull comps and add a 10% premium on top to reflect the rehabbed condition.

I was unsure of what was needed I googled it and a ton came up saying $25, $49, $79... after walking through each had a basic, Deluxe, and Premium?

I was hoping to switch away from Nationwide altogether, however, so far they were the only ones willing to provide me an umbrella insurance quote and it would still require switching my auto insurance and paying a $400 higher premium on that plan, which ultimately turns into the same premium rates as the high risk insurance.The only other quotes I got were from high risk carriers offering high risk insurance for over $600 plus switching my auto.I've also read up that its not a good idea to try and switch the properties currently under my name into an LLC now, that its very risky. 

Chop a cord of wood for your uncle or clean your parents garage for them.What about a promotion at work or getting a better job?

It is close to downtown Raleigh so you will be paying a premium to live there.

House is in Houston Texas(unoccupied, being rehabbed)2) What is the typical premium for this kind insurance?