Right or wrong, we have more insurance companies looking to specifically disqualifying an apartment complex that allows charcoal grills on wood decks or balconies.

Not that there is a right or wrong answer either, just a different strategy and each will have their own set of considerations,.

NOI does not include financing expense so you have some terminology wrong. 

What might be some ways I can protect myself so I don't pay a high price for simply investing at the wrong time?

Sometimes the tax assessors office gets things wrong.

Your money in the deal shows you trust your own ability to complete the project and shows the lender that you have something to lose if the project takes a wrong turn.

I just realized I may have put this in the wrong Forum Category, sorry!

I've also looked them up on white pages, even tried to call one of them (it was a wrong number :/....) but what do I do at this point?

Now don’t get me wrong here.

Maybe i am going crazy, (after looking at 4-5 deals a day, that may be true) but i feel like i may be plunging in some information into the rental calculator wrong or there are just not that much good deals in the Torrance Area (in regards to traditional investing). i have done a quite few deals with creative investing in the South Bay arrea but I am still having troubles with the appplacation. can anyone help?