@Sara Valentine Service dogs are not considered pets and are often vert well trained.

Do you require the tenants to have renters insurance AND do you make sure the renters policy does not have a dog bite / dog breed exclusion?

I have laminate in my home, the dog urinated in the same area for a few years causing bubbling at the seems a little bit.

If you don't have time to bird-dog your own deals, these guys can be a great asset.

Then there is one on the wall to the left of it, which I hate opening since it opens to the patio of my neighbors apartment where she keeps 5 little dogs, so opening it only fills the hot living room with the smell of dog urine.

I can tell you the last person I evicted was shocked, and was having to live with friends because no one would rent to them... not even a mobile home... and they had a family of 4 with a dog.  

Also on the backside of the property, she put a junky chair and table with a smoke bucket and dog tie out.

She is thinking of renting out her house for short term rental while she's gone to make up for some of the costs of being gone (she has some special need dogs that cost more to board).

It feels as if the shift to more of an apartment home is what helps with tenant retention.Having amenities on property, such as dog parks and fitness centers, help with retention, and being close to amenities also helps.I think the same can be said for most smaller multifamily, with having washer dryer hook ups, 2 to 3 beds, at east 1 1/2 baths, if you have some privacy for a yard would be a huge bonus.I really would stay away from pools for small multi families.

As well as coffee shops like Bottoms Up Coffee are moving in and small microbreweries like brew dog and Land Grant