Major issues like foundation work, bathroom renovations, and deck repairs are considered capital improvements, which can be depreciated over time, allowing you to offset a significant portion of your rental income with those deductions.

We've helped a lot of our members trouble shoot and make minor tweaks to their properties to improve the performance.

Since you need to make some improvements to get the rents to market levels, it could make sense for you to inform all of the tenants you will not be renewing their leases so you can fix all of the units at once and then get them rented. 

Always interested in something that can improve operations.

Timing can sometimes be as valuable as improvements in this business.

Thanks @Max Emory & @Jake BakerI am in the process of test driving Stessa to see if it helps with improving my efficiency on the property management side, including keeping track or insurance, property taxes, maintenance etc.

A good Accountant or Bookkeeper will work with you to tie out all your accounts and let you know any issues or advice as it comes up throughout the year.I would be more than happy to chat with you more about your finances, I was one of the few Bookkeepers to be invited to BiggerPocket's Financial Service offers and have been working with them on ways to improve it as I help more and more investors with their Books. 

Rockford seems to be improving, but what areas are a "no go" for buy and holds?

Do improvements while living there.You can technically do this every 12 months, or as soon as you can save up your next down payment.You can also buy 2-4 unit properties and use FHA to put only 3.5% down.

I know Property Meld has something built into their Maintenance dashboard where it asks for reviews after maintenance issues are handled and I think if they rate 4 or 5 starts they then ask for a google review and if it's 3 or below it stays internal and gets circulated around so the team can figure out what went wrong and improve on it.