(i did check with the apartment and they said either pay the full 1 year lease and get out or stay till contract is over... i was mad but had no choice). however, luck was on my side since i also got another job with an increase in salary.

Everyone wants good solid returns and expects you to under-promise and over-deliver. 

PM's need to be trained/guided to work properly with your style and expectations of doing things, or they will get feral just like anyone else.

Anyone taken the course, was it good or bad, did he expect more money after the course to make things happen, most of all is the course effective?  

You need to join an agency, which means you are taking a job and you would be expected to perform (sell).

I had the opportunity, when I first started wholesaling, to quit my job on the back of my first deal which netted me 8 month’s salary.

Every situation will differ based on the investors expectations and value of their capital.I would say somewhere in the 7-10% range would be fair for both sides.A little more expensive than traditional funding and a little less expensive than HML.

Can anyone share with me a good rule of thumb in terms of the price / sq foot we should expect to pay for insurance in this area?

Essentially, if you can reasonably expect to make a similar repair within the useful life of the asset (not to exceed 10 years) you can deduct it. 

They are expecting a patio style home where it's all above grade.