With the rate property taxes are going up in Austin, we raise rents every year--and explain the increase with market details.

Here's an article explaining some of the options you may run into: https://streeteasy.com/blog/nyc-real-estate-agent-splits-com...

Care to explain?

What I would do if the property were here in PA would be to call them, explain the situation, explain they're breaking the law, explain my recourse in filing a landlord-tenant complaint and the permanent consequences thereof, and go from there.

I kept insisting on refund, and they kept gaslighting me saying I'm just "confused" about the deal... they've explained it to me like 5 times.

Hi Chris, I'm sorry I didn't explain myself well.

We have explained this to him and he is not convinced. 

Section 8 will deem their asking rent "unreasonable") I'll explain it again (speaking s-l-o-w-ly): Section 8 uses the HUD guidelines for fair market rent which are based on the 40th percentile of a moderately priced apartment in a  given zip code.

That's the way it was explained on another Solo 401k advisors webinar.

Ask them if they can explain how they came to those numbers, so you have a clearer idea how your qualifications will change for less expensive property with lower rents compared to a more expensive property with higher rents.