Don't reduce rent for longer terms.

One strategy could be to make accelerated payments on a 20-25 or 30 year mortgage which can reduce the scheduled payments 6-7 years.

That's how people get over-leveraged and into trouble.If you want to invest, do it the old-fashioned way: increase earnings, reduce expenses, save, then invest.

Also, paying $500 extra reduce the payout period by about 15 years.

I know no one that can help me figure out if combining the two lots will help reduce my property taxes.  

By thoroughly vetting prospective tenants, property owners can reduce the likelihood of problematic tenancies.- Maintaining Property Value: Renting to reliable tenants who pay on time and take care of the property helps maintain its value.

Strategies to improve cash flow include house hacking, value-add properties, short-term rentals, lowering purchase prices, reducing expenses, creative financing, market research, and self-education.

Not being able to send them packing at the end of the term is going to make things more challenging not to mention making life miserable to the quality tenants living next to these less than desirable characters.The law was billed as reducing unnecessary evictions (those without cause).

IRS Publication 537 outlines installment sales (seller financing), which, depending on the seller's individual circumstances, can defer and sometimes reduce the amount of capital gain tax owed. 

We have reduced the price three times.