In the past with owning duplexes in Milwaukee, One rent paid for the mortgage and the other paid the property taxes and insurance. 

Our strategic improvements and targeted marketing paid off, resulting in a successful sale on 10/25/2024 for $260,000.

This is most of the depreciation you are taking year one.You can calculate your depreciation recapture by taking the sale price of the asset and subtracting the adjusted cost basis.The adjusted cost basis is what you paid for the asset plus any improvements you made along the way minus the depreciation you took along the way.The profit above this original cost is taxed as a capital gain, but the part linked to depreciation is taxed at a maximum rate of 25% under the unrecaptured gains of section 1250.To recap the tax rates are:- Sec. 1250 real property: 25%- Sec. 1245 property and 15 year 1250 property: Ordinary Tax RatesThere are ways to minimize depreciation recapture especially if you know how to work smart with your CPA.1) Asset Valuation at Time of Sale - Sellers can minimize recapture by reallocating the price of the assets on sale.

. - were paid back. 

In a year, I know my rentals should be in the same or better position as one of the mortgages should be paid off!

Obviously you hire an eviction specialist, preferably a year ago they would have paid for themselves already.

For those who have gotten insurance claim renters using Ale Solutions I'm curious how many have paid for the Preferred Landlord Program vs just registering your property for free.

Also there are probably paid options that pull public records like landglide, propradar etc, or try your local title company rep. 

I also have about $20,000 in student loan debt, though I expect it to be paid off by the time I move.

Pretty good considering COVID was happening for 2 of those years, and I still got paid.