Do you challenge the HELOC method because you were on the debate team in high school and like to try and heat up threads for discussion? 

They do generate a profit, but with the heat here, we end up having to block them out from June through August. 

The amount of rooms, heating systems, separate property tax bills, insurance premiums, etc, etc. 

Things like septic pumps burning out, steam room dying, guests catching the grill on fire and leaving burn marks on the hardi siding, emergency bug treatment, above ground pool which is ridiculously hard to manage in our heat & having no time to deal with it if it starts to go, laundry & drying time for all the towels and linens, etc, etc.There are plenty of things we can and will get better at, but I'm prioritizing the stress level of my people as well as the very near disasters we've narrowly avoided, over the little bit of extra revenue we'd generate.

I would only add its heating up and there are several developments going in.

Tampa bay areaBlock - not older than 1940Wood frame - not older than 1970Min heated sq ft 900out of flood zone

Texas heat in the 100s is no joke and a judge will not be nice about you NOT fixing it.

I think also, depending on how hot it is there it could be a + or - as I believe it absorbs heat as well.

what it sounds like you are asking is illegal in many ways, section 8 laws, local laws, duel contract laws that conflict, there always has been also those out there looking to catch you breaking them,  avoid it, dont offer it, dont entertain it, there is leeway up if the tenant meets certain conditions, say need 1 floor rental, if not rent may be inflated over realistic market, which is what rented at not listed at, keeping in mind sec 8 market rents also include utilities paid, you can usually reach by email fastest, they have set chart, heat type, neighborhood etc, more than listings found online

But all well maintained with central heat and air.  5 of the 7 were vacant.