This depends on if you are using the Cash or Accrual method of accounting for tax purposes.

Sure, I could look for a higher paying job, but I was wondering if anyone has any creative short-term methods to improve my ratio.

I lived there from 2017 to 2022 and personally witnessed significant changes during that time.

The only two ways to rectify this are (1) purchase the property far below market price or (2) significantly increase the property net income usually through some method of “repositioning”. 

It will be very difficult to cash flow in Austin using traditional LTR methods unless you put down a huge down payment.

Is the only way to pay for a Reno for my childhood home to sell my current home or is there a method I'm not familiar with that I can use my current homes value to help me out??

Does anyone have any tips on how to find the right guys or methods that you use to vet people? 

I could also just do RUBS on each of the 4 units based on # of occupants or square footage or another method (which is best???).

Under this method each investor has ownership and voting rights.

Attend in person networking events in your area (there are many in and around Vancouver).