If you do not wish to pay the increased rent you may decide to seek other housing.

If the numbers don't work with it then don't force it and don't rush it.Always ask for full or partial owner financing the answer will sometimes surprise you.We just bought a property with 5k down and owner financing the rest at zero percent.

Trying to decide what my options are for 2025.  

@Levi Perl As other have noted, most decide not to move this time of year unless they absolutely have to and that tenant pool is small.

I wrote letters to owners and found someone willing to make me a great deal.

You just have to know the area  the soils and or get owners permission to do a test if they will allow it ( pretty rare i suspect to be able to do that)..

The AP has to be open, notorious and hostile...those terms have a legal meaning and essentially it is that you as the owner have been fully deprived of your right to the property.Absent those items above, it sounds like at best they have another legal right which is a "prescriptive easement".

You can't add a lake but you can build out a great kitchen with everything needed to cook anything.Every STR owner will have a different answer.

I would be pressing the owner for that!  

Any way to capitalize on this garage outside of just attracting higher rents once I move out and/or higher sales price if I decide to sell?