Right now, I do have the "REALTOR" status but wondering if it make sense to keep paying the $800/yr to keep the status?

For example, a buyer putting 20% down on a $500k home would pay around $500k in interest over the 30-year life of a typical mortgage at a rate around 6.5%.

If I can park the 388k ($415-27k) for one year at CD rate of 4.5% and then est 300k (after paying cap gain/depr recap) at 3.0% (assume CD rates lower) that interest income of about 24 months net of ordinary income tax is about the same as my current mortgage.Trying to play devil's advocate and think why selling this year does not make sense. 

You can compromise without loosing good paying tenants if they pay on time. 

I am using the tax benefit along with the principal pay down and appreciation to offset.

If you have a 10% interest rate on a car loan, then paying that off would give you a risk free 10% rate of return.  

If it has any basis at all (such as you left the apartment during your lease term for what you felt was a justifiable reason and stopped paying rent, but the landlord disagreed) then you may be better off paying a rather small settlement.  

No but keep track of those repairs as it will add to your cost basis when you go to sell it and have to pay capital gains.

Of course the tenant doesn't want to pay, she's got a free ride.

While buying one that’s up and running might seem a good idea - paying for speed - if you’re not quite ready, sometimes the best deal you make is the one you don’t make at all.