Knowing how much you still owe will help figure out the real cost of losing that low rate.Also, when it comes to borrowing the additional $170K, it’s key to know what kind of returns you’re expecting to make on that money.

When we took over managing this short-term rental, it was struggling with low occupancy, inconsistent guest reviews, and poor pricing strategies.

Low to zero down on your first house. 

Lexington is a weird market with low occupancy, 90-92%, and there aren't many assets in the market.

@Emily Gowen so as you pointed out you would not have to do a 1031 exchange on your current home to avoid the capital gains tax and coupled with what Dave Foster pointed out I think, speaking from experience you would have a high likelihood of success. 

.- If doing value add, which market do you think your efforts are going to add more value, the low property cost area or the high property cost area? 

Any recommendations for other “low time commitment/ high ROI” marketing ideas? 

You might not see it once the walls go up, but trust me—buyers will feel the difference when their utility bills stay low!

It's no different than investors buying and negotiating low prices on distressed opportunities.

If your opt-out percentage is too high then it may look suspicious to the carriers; ultimately, affecting your delivery rates.The goal is to keep you opt-out percentage low while maintaining compliance.