It’s also important to be as specific as possible in the scope of work for each line item—clear details can save you from misunderstandings or unexpected costs later on.I specialize in consulting services for situations just like this, helping clients work confidently with contractors by bridging the knowledge gap.

I saved up the down payment for a few months and have a few remaining as emergency funds.

@Dustin Horner you should be contracting maintenance work and creating a preferred list of vendors as @Phillip Austin has recommended.The first person you hire to help you should be to handle what you LEAST like to do yourself or has the greatest time savings for you!

Two, the tenants will likely stay longer and there will be less turnover, which mean some savings on turnover costs.

Our HOA/complex manager has saved my butt more than once when a guest has locked themselves out of the unit and I'm across town or whatever.

I'd then look at the interest savings vs. the cost of the refinance + penalty and see how long it would take you to recoup those costs. 

This is not personal, but if a person cannot save money now real estate is the worst investment to get into as it is one of the most cost intensive businesses to be in.  

@Steven HsuBigger Pockets is a great place to find a real estate tax accountant.A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

Highlighting features like “walking distance to top-rated schools” helped me attract renters even during slower months.Negotiate SmartlyWhile sticking to your legal rights is important, a pragmatic approach could save time and hassle.

If you’re not already using similar software, I’d highly recommend exploring these options—they can save you a lot of headaches down the road.