Honestly, In the grand scheme of things, either option is going to be fine.If your goal is # of doors, then use the lever, if your goal is increased cashflow in retirement make the extra payment I'd say.If you really want to make more payments, make biweekly payments of half your monthly mortgage ;)You wont feel it as much.

Lately, my lead flow has struggled (CTR-ALL has been declining and CPL has been significantly increasing). 

Rent increases might have been tough, will be interesting to hear of your success here about raising rents.   

The resulting increase in crime drove many of the other residents out, leading to high vacancy rates and constant police calls.

Depreciation, and if it will increase your property tax.Find out what will be your new insurance requirements, and verify your lenders  are aa onboard with this transfer.Add up your resident agent fees, and find out the yearly costs for PO boxes if needed, plus the yearly cost for corporate formalities for each shell.The Federal Government now requires every entity to file with them yearly, the owners of the shells.

It depends on where you are on the investing phase, everyone will be in a different part and have differing opinions.I was in the growth phase a couple years so I looked to take on more debt to build my portfolio.I accumulated a lot of wealth after all the appreciation over the past 5 years.I am now looking to decrease my debt.Once the debt is paid down, I will be able to get an increase in monthly cash-flow that would have went to interest / principal paydown.Remember the goal is a comfortable living situation and not to acquire more rentals(or another job).

I think it was improving, particularly north of Independence Ave but I feel like it's gotten worse since crime increased across the country in 2020.

I'd like to increase this a the median for most 3/2  properties in my area is roughly 300k.

It’s a big issue trying to upgrade units with tenants in place especially if they have pets that will be disturbed or have an increased opportunity to escape while contractors are going in and out of the units.

Labor cost and skill level are also issues.The major announced a plan to increase population by about 50% and the only way we can do that is density.