We took the reverse action and started lowering asking rents until they moved.I suspect the reason that one property of yours turned quickly is because your asking rent was very favorable vs. local competition. 

I have supplemental insurance so I am of the mindset that they should get rid of this bogus insurance and lower my host fees..

You may FEEL that they are but your expenses may go UP at the same time as rents need to be LOWERED!

Local banks typically offer lower interest rates but might require a solid track record and detailed financials.

I would not put so much on an appraisal report.A number of reasons might be the answer for this lower appraisal report:1- What city is this property located?

@Damon AlbersSounds like these properties are in a class c area and your manager is not doing a good job vetting themBut this is not out of ordinary for c class rentals which is why people look at cash flow and be like wow but one $5000 bill can wipe out 4-6 months of rental income and properties never make money and rarely appreciateThis is why we do not do lower class rentals as stated cash flow vs reality are typically not close

I'm going to start reaching out soon to a friend of a family member who owns a local PM group with roughly 1000 doors for lower income, just to pick his brain, but I can envision a scenario where if I needed to partner with someone to get my first deal and gain some creditability and experience, he may be willing to assist.

Which is why I pay more, for less cash flow in highly desirable areas.In high income areas, rent is a lower proportion of income so therefore your tenants have a higher capacity for paying higher rent because rent is less than 20% or even 10% of their income.

I would like to have lower monthly payments should I make a big lump sum payment towards my principals and ask my mortgage company to adjust it or refinance it or which one is the best ? 

You’re able to learn the basics of a real estate investment with lower risk and build equity at the same time.Because you're in the military, you'll be able to enter a property with 0% down which means you can leverage your money way more effectively.