I’ve seen umbrella coverage for single properties usually land somewhere between $300–$600 annually, depending on the liability amount, location, and provider.Aegis + FAIR Plan at $995 feels more in line with market rates, especially if you're in a coastal or high-risk area where the FAIR Plan is required.

Most mentors don’t want money, they want to see you’re serious.Bottom line: Mentors aren’t unicorns, but you have to put yourself out there and be willing to learn by doing.

Ask the building Dept what they see as issues or problems as they will be the ones to make this a go or no-go.Biggest issues are usually getting to the drain line.

@Seth McGathey instead of a HELOC which is a line of credit, you could get a 2nd mortgage.

Unless you have more experience with the sales process than most agents do, know the sales contracts line by line,  and have a lot of experience working on houses, know which specialists to bring in and how to interpret what they tell you, etc. then you should have your own agent representing you. 

I'm especially interested in exploring short-term rentals (STRs) and long-term rentals (LTRs), and maybe even getting into some BRRRR deals down the line.

Are you looking for turn-key properties or something along the lines of a "fixer upper"?

I understand John's thoughts on this, but some people are willing to pay a little more to have someone do it and do it right.I've never seen Minoan's work in person, but from what you see on line, it's on brand with what I see in my clients' best-performing STRs here in Colorado. 

For example, if there a small back patio with the roof line hanging over the patio and you do not need to add/extend the roof that is a great move due to the high costs for adding a bigger footprint to the roof while adding the framing etc for more sqft.

But where do you draw the line between a reasonable monthly fee and "OMG That's outrageous!"