Also perhaps consider increasing the rent slightly to cover for any contingencies and agree to return the excess upon compliance with lease and vacant possession as long as it is all state compliant. 

These are all mass repetitive "Contained" environments.Now the next great investment will be Auto over the road trucks, Nano Cancer treatments, Nano crop pesticide reduction, Solar electric surface paint generation, Water pumping technology from the Mississippi River to California/Arizona (reverse Dam management(actually don't recommend this, will cause excess salination of the Gulf)), Certified Individualized Student learning platforms, etc. 

The condo claims they were excessively beyond normal wear and tear.

Any excess would go into buying another home, and with the VA loan we don't have to worry about a down payment.

Wouldn't it be the same to pay the mortgage down at a slow rate and then use the excess funds to invest in new property?

It's super important to create a well-balanced portfolio, in alignment with your risk appetite.

When you raise the rents be sure to tell the tenants that the reason for the increased rent is the tax bill so maybe they will vote more often to cut out the city excess crap like the hotels for the homeless. 

Managers should agree to secure prior approval of Owner for all expenditures in excess of a certain dollar amount.

They are quoting me in excess of $3k to replace just the heater components of the unit.  

To me being an agent for all these decades .. its a lifestyle choice .. its not a job per se. mainly the more successful you become as an agent the busier you get.. there are so many perks to being a successful high producing agent FAR in excess of just the commission income.