I already keep redundant copies of all documents associated to the business online in Google Drive.

I’ve also been known to drive past their current residence to see how they maintain it if they fill out an application as part of my screening process. 

I’m in Detroit everyday and would be happy to drive to the property, attempt to help you find the “pm”  etc....and help you have a better experience in Detroit.

In a market where the average sales price is over 98% of asking, I'm not going to invest my time in submitting offers that are 70% or even 80% of asking, unless there's some unusual factor that justifies it.Likewise the newbie wholesaler who has just taken a guru course and calls me with an authoritative tone, telling me that he's a real estate investor and wants me to find him a great deal. 

What are the main factors YOU take into consideration to decide what market to invest in?

It would be even better if they were willing to do the paperwork on a Driving for Dollars or other property I found on my own (again, for a fee). 

Another factor is the location. 

I think holding in your personal name with an umbrella policy may be similar risk wise to holding the property(ies) in an LLC but with perhaps lower overall costs after factoring minimum taxes and fees associated with an LLC.Perhaps an atty could tell you what the process would be for transferring properties into an LLC, but I don't imagine it would be difficult. 

But there are other factors you might want to consider. 

There are market factors that impact supply and demand that don't move together.