When we used vrbo we never met with the owner they just gave us the combo a few hours before check in.  I

The great thing about that is those are real stories from real folks you can actually ask questions and get direct answers from.Another possibility depending on your position and what kind of investment you're interested in is to "house hack".

To say it another way, if the market that you're looking in is saturated, simply look at another market :)Happy hunting!

I am new to the game and would appreciate feedback from people with experience in this kind of deal.  

Buy and hold is the long-term game. 

As a contractor and a RE Broker, investor and developer I should have been more in the game and taking notice of all the foreclosure yet remaining.

I am game.

Insurance is a statistics game, thats how they rate your policies, and statistically speaking, with every property you have, new tenant, people over to your house...etc, you are diluting your protection and lack of need for greater insurance.  

I currently have a couple of leads and am looking to get back in the game.

The main thing is disclosure, and they have to understand all ramifications.The name of the game used to be location location location, now it's disclosure disclosure disclosure.