Call utility Co and ask, although they try to get out of it by claiming confidentiality, I just ell them I'm looking at the unit to rent/but and need to know "rough numbers", they will often will say what a "budget plan # is", as in a locked in monthly electric bill of $180 for a smaller all electric home I own, but not what the current occupants' exact bill is. 

Older properties (80 years+) tend to have higher insurance because they are more prone to claims.

I get several calls a month from people interested in fire-damaged properties that my clients may want to sell.Tavisha Grant, Public Adjuster, Property Claim Adjusters, Phoenix, AZ

Since they would be re-claiming the property, but in much worse condition than it was sold at?

He makes his money on trying to sell his books , telling everyone that creative real estate is a fraud and is calling everyone a scammer that is a little out of the box.While there certainly are gurus that just repackage material or spread actual lies, there are fewer scammers than he claims.

If any of you have questions regarding repairs or have questions on a future insurance claim (hopefully you don't, but they are a reality of home ownership and investing), feel free to shoot me a message and I'd love to help. 

I was penalized by a claim that was on the property prior to my purchase, but it got cheaper the longer I held it, so you might rerun it every year.

Sometimes you claimed a lot of repairs on your 2014 return but not your 2015 return so showing a 2015 return will allow your loan approval to be shown in the best light to an underwriter.Since its now 10.25.16 and we're 10 days past the corporate return filing period of extensions I would assume you have your 2015 returns.If the income is good you can use that income, if not there are ways to document the use of the other income method of 75% of gross - PITIA if you did substantial repairs to your properties upon purchase or if the tax returns were not an accurate depiction of actual income, whichever method is best from a qualification stand point.

Then I found Redfin who claims the property is Pending under contract.

I don't dissect their portfolios but with some of the recent extreme weather, turning attention to those markets that have had those types of events, which also means tapping into insurance claims to re-build, is a way to deploy product that has a higher rate of absorption.