When the landlord lies and says I have 12 dogs and it's a lease violation, that's an unfair eviction. 

This can help you cover your mortgage while you build equity and gain more experience managing multiple tenants and building out better systems and processes if you do decide you want to pursue larger properties. 

At a technical level you have two paths, either 1) combining the bottom and ground floor units into a larger unit as you suggested above or 2) create a third legal unit.

Ensure all additions meet local building codes and have proper permits.In your specific case, converting the loft into a bedroom and adding a bathroom could be a smart move, potentially increasing your home's value and appeal to larger families.

However that is also just natural in that more active members are going to be those younger investors that are in the high leverage growth phase and are asking questions and seeking help because they are new at it, vs many of the investors that have already built their larger portfolio and have consolidated it, now have low leverage and are just enjoying the fruits of their labor don't come on as much other than to help others since they don't need to ask questions as much. 

Again in CA folks coming in from Vietnam war would go out into the mountains of the state and federal forests and basically kill anything that moved and ate them..was  a real issue about wiped out the black bear population and in Wa. my brother in law worked for the road department and would find dogs that had been eaten it happens..

To me, this would signify a larger rate cut to encourage more spending and economic growth.

You can exchange your property for a larger property and build your net worth faster through greater appreciation (because of higher starting value) and greater amortization.  

It is part of a larger building and I am not able to assess whether it is in some way a condo, and if so, are they up to date with any fees. 

Perhaps partner on a smaller multifamily deal (5-10 units) to prove your capabilities before tackling larger syndications.Leverage social media and content creation to build your personal brand as a multifamily expert.