Obviously I could use the money to buy more more more, but there's something attractive about owning the rentals outright, then saving the additional cash flow to get the next one and so on. 

Installation Costs and IncentivesAverage Cost: Residential solar systems typically cost between $15,000 to $25,000 before incentives for a 6kW system (suitable for an average home).Incentives: Illinois offers substantial incentives, including:Federal Tax Credit: A 30% federal tax credit applies to system costs.Illinois Shines Program: Provides Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) that homeowners can sell for additional income.Net Metering: You’ll receive credits for any excess energy your system produces, reducing your utility bill.2.

I’m also debating whether to make it more attractive for renters by doing larger renovations.

The nicer the place looks, the more likely it will attract quality renters willing to pay market rate.

I got through each of those, and that home has produced a solid income and is nearly doubling in value.Good luck.Matt

.- Is there a kind of person who could help me with pre-sale improvements (roughly saying, to tell me what is worth replacing, improving, etc and what is not,1 to make the house more attractive for the buyer)?

You only have to pull in a few people to make piles of cash without producing any results . . . it is easy to blame the person that paid for the service for not spending enough or working hard enough. 

I would prefer some green areas (but should be closer to beach) so that it still is attracted to STR. 

When investing in the Midwest, I really like Ohio because we have multiple markets that attract all types of investors, which in turn is causing our markets to boom.

REITs own and operate income-producing real estate and pass on profits to investors.