Often cheaper for them to sell on land contract as they only have to pay taxes on the payments they receive.

If that's what you're looking for, there are cheaper ways to do it. 

     - Current rent rates are roughly 200-250 cheaper than what this market could support "ONCE" homes had some love.         17 doors,  Total mth Rent 9,600    (avg 564/mth)Consists of: - 1 apartment - 8 door, built 1980, not beautiful but functional.

My rent would be approximately 30% cheaper in the new place, before the increase.

Thank god I did because I received it on the last day I could go to the assessor and talk to her in person before I the may 28th appeals datethe letter reads that my new assessment is 590k and that my new taxable rate was 91% of that 590k.  

Realized it would probably be cheaper on a monthly basis to have a mortgage there rather than pay rent for another year.

What Galen is saying is that you are taking your original basis out first which is not taxable. 

Might be cheaper to run a vent of some sort. 

Depending on property condition and whether the property is still habitable (renovations are primarily cosmetic), you shouldn't rule out a regular cash out refinance, which may be cheaper than a renovation loan or other non-conventional product. 

If you wanted a root canal, would you go to the dentist that has worked in the field full-time for ten years, or would you pick the cheaper dentist that does it as a side hustle?