Unlike a cash-out refinance, you pay for the funds as you go and it functions as a credit card (rather than a mortgage), giving you more flexibility over the funds secured via your house and is potentially cheaper than a mortgage since it is not amortized.

Penalizing a landlord for raising rent is 100% a form of rent control. 

I want to raise the rent for each unit. 

Will raising rent 10% (max allowed) get her to give you notice?  

I want to focus more on raising capital through wholesaling and then invest in some multifamily housing in the central Florida area.

They may be less resentful this way than if you just blatantly raise it with no explanation.

Cosmetic updates, some new windows, tuckpointing, new doors and just raising the rents where they hadn't been raised in years.

It's a great way to build a house of cards by borrowing yourself into a corner though. 

We agreed for him to rotate some of his art in and out of our house, up to 20 pieces at a time with his business cards. 

I would definitely have a red flag raised for future dealings with this tenant if they didn't own up to it.