Right now my strategy of making gradual but consistent upgrades is specifically with reserves in mind.

@Michael Ealy, yes, rent control is coming to CA - though, my understanding is that it's a gradual roll out over the next several years.

Some things you can only learn by doing.Maybe be a little more conservative in your guesses for income increasing. unless you have an annual rent increase built into your leases, those may stay pretty steady with some big dips when you have vacancy which will hopefully be made up gradually by getting higher rent.Good luck!

Gradually, a bigger portion goes to principal, and the interest portion starts shrinking.

We have been gradually getting rid of them, starting with the worst ones first and working our way up. 

The gap of time while a FN person transitions from non resident to visa then residence status allows them to move gradually from 50% down to 30% down slowly and then ultimately into eligibility for regular programs like conventional and fha or VA financing.

If it isn’t that much then  just raise the rent gradually each year until they are caught up to market rate.If they are Section8 tenants then you are NOT subject to be limited to rent control laws generally.

.; a house hack), and then gradually build up to more advanced strategies as you gain experience.

There is a tax election (IRC 871) to have the income taxed at gradual rates.

It is hard to predict exactly how things will go, but the trend seems to be gradually positive to me.