Most of the time the seller was either going to pay off high interest debt - like 19% credit cards, or invest in a greater investment opportunity.So, considering all of this, why do owner financing deals get made?

I have one Amex card showing up and a bunch of student loans - do banks take these as trades?

Have you raised your rents each renewal cycle to at least kept up with the inflation of your variable costs of taxes and property insurance?  

You can certainly raise money but I wouldn't recommend this for out of state investments as your post suggests.

So I’ve since blocked off the third floor on one side and rented it as a 1 BR for now. but when the other side leaves eventually I’m starting to lean towards raising the ground grade 28” so that the total drop is less than 20’and then I’ll knock down some walls and make the whole 3rd floor attached only to that last unit so that the whole area can use the stairs and that window as second egress. 

I think super detailed stuff like tax law is interesting, and I have plenty of experience with 1031s and SFR investing, but a Turnkey operator on a forum shouldn't be your tax advisor ;) Sorry to raise your hopes and then dash them - I will speak more carefully in future.All the best,Clayton

Don’t pay a coach don’t get sucked into spending credit card money on dreams and promises.  

If the money is coming from the government (We the People), it won't raise the prices of houses because that expenditure is not coming from the builder, lender, or selling agent. 

It can raise your cost if not planned for. 

:(I have been able to raise rents on a few properties to get everything covered, but a few of the houses would be at a price point that would be nearly impossible to rent out in our small town.