Both allow you to avoid touching retirement funds while leveraging the value of your properties.

This avoids the headache of eviction and wraps things up cleanly.If things escalate before their lease is up—like the music gets worse or complaints keep piling up—you could consider eviction.

Zachary,Your concerns about Cleveland are valid—high property taxes and stagnant population growth are definitely challenges to consider.

Hello everyone, I am reaching out to the BP Community for suggestions.My Portfolio100% owner of 7 SFH PropertiesGP in about 30 SFH properties(of which I own somewhere between 25% to 50%)All but two properties are managed by a PM CompanyNet worth of the above is about $2,000,000 - $2,500,000My IssuesI have many SFH's - Which take up time(Currently spending time paying property tax and insurance, requesting quotes on insurance policies and overseeing the PM Company(approve rent increases, approve renovation projects, etc).They also take up head-space(having to remember property addresses, remembering when property taxes are due)(I have reminders/systems but something I would like to reduce)Goals1) Spend less time on Real Estate2) Free up head-space2) Make $240,000 annually from real estate(Which I think is not to hard if I can increase my net worth and can get an 8% return)Possible Solutions1) Sell all the SFH's and buy 4-Unit Properties to take advantage of conventional financing2) Sell all the SFH's and buy one large apartment complex3) Sell al the SFH's and invest in syndications4) Sell all the SFH's and purchase stock / bonds5) Continue to hold all the SFH's6) Any other suggestionsOther Considations1) Should I consider private notes?

You may be able to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes before the property is in service. 

I'm thankful that I made a decision to self manage. even at a  distance I think it helps you avoid a lot of headaches

You are hopefully getting good cash flow, appreciation, mortgage paydown and tax benefits.   

Most of those STR-specific risks are avoidable. 

I looked into this as well since I'm getting terribly bent over on my w-2 taxes. 

You'd need to show the income on your tax returns and/or have a lease and first month's rent/security deposit for the unit you were living in.