My family is in the same situation and hoping for answers on the insurance issue. Any updates on this?

I believe Spark Rental will meet most, if not all of your needs for renting your home while abroad. I think its mostly US based, and it was created by the spouse of an international teacher, so he is familiar with the international teaching lifestyle and specific needs that come with renting property while abroad. There's a whole range of services for automating your landlord responsibilities.

https://sparkrental.com/