Accounting function is extra so I don't know how that looks.If you are just starting, it might worth using it since it already comes with the BP Pro. 

I want guaranteed monthly rents because when I purchase my main focus is cash flow, then equity in the form of added value (renovations, adding extra bedroom, etc).

For example you finish the attic and add a 3rd bedroom or you take the already there illegal attic or basement unit which are common in Chicago and connect it to the legal unit for extra living space so now you have 3/2 duplex rents on what used to be a 2/1 simplex.

It's easy to obtain, costs very little, and doesn't require extra, on-going effort to maintain.

Yep, I used my HELOC to help me pay cash for my first two rentals. 3 years later I did a cash out refi on one of them and got all my cash back plus an extra 10k.

I always thought he went the extra mile to save me money and he knew what looked the best.

My realtor suggested about 10k-20k extra in value.  

If your property is a good mid-term candidate, then it's just a matter of whether the extra effort is worth the extra income to you.

It’s not a feature a tenant will pay extra for, much less maintain.  

My current primary ( scenario 1) Keep the primary for the life of the loan ( current rate is 4.5 so i dont see my self refinancing anytime soon)current home value 1,150,000Loan amount 935,000appreciation estimate 5% per year after a 28 year hold and the house is paid off I would have a house worth 4,312,000$my current mortgage is 6125$ ( piti) included My second option( scenario 2) Sell the house, walk away with $150 ,000 ish in hand and put that into a low cost index fund Rent a house elsewhere for about 3000$ ish and take the extra 3000$ im saving everymonths from not having to pay my mortgage and puting that money in the index fund as well I ran the numbers on both of these scenarios and doing what I mentioned above would break even at about 28 years meaning my stock account would be worth 4.3 million just like my house would , but the only is that holding a house for 28 year would mean 28 years of property taxes, loan interest ,home insurance and repairs etc whick I calculated to be about 1,200,000$ at minimum which raised my eyebrows to say the least Also i understand that each of these options ( stock market vs real estate ) will have there tax consequences ( long term capital gains) so any thoughts on that would be appreciated as well.