The losses would have spiraled out of control for me had I not been able to sell my second house immediately.I don't look back on my experience with any regrets since I know the risks we take playing this game. 

Then you can determine if you made a profit, loss or broke even.Determining your sales price can only be determined by the market. 

The way I interpret the following policy clause is that so long as the property is defined as other than "VACANT" which is the case when the property is being "constructed, altered or repaired", the 30-day time period and vacant status does not apply in this instance: We do not insure any loss at your premises if your dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before the loss and the declaration page indicates an occupancy other than “VACANT“.

I can release my properties without much loss if I have to. 

That's two months of lost rent and utilities ($5,600) plus $2,000 in cleaning/repairs for a total loss of $7,600.

They learn from every loss, improve their process, and move on to the next opportunity.

Since rental losses are typically passive, the best way to offset W-2 income is through Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) (750+ hours) or Short-Term Rentals (STRs) (100+ hours and more time than anyone else managing the property), which allow real estate losses, including depreciation, to offset active income.A cost segregation study accelerates depreciation, generating large upfront deductions.

I do want to point out though that Cleveland's population loss has finally stopped.

It's led to incredibly high occupancy rate in the off-season, but I'd rather have a slightly lower occupancy rate in order to reduce wear and tear and leave some weekends open for personal use.I'm at a loss on what to do about this.

You might consider: Consulting a Real Estate Attorney – Your emails may possibly prove misrepresentation.Requesting Public Records – A FOIA request might reveal why the city denied you but later approved the duplex.Escalating to City Officials – Bringing this to local officials could expose inconsistencies.Exploring Tax Write-Offs – A CPA might help offset your financial loss, if it is possible.I’d definitely seek legal advice.