You have 22 properties that are probably at least 60 years old. 15% maintenance of $1000 rent does not get you very far when you start looking at big-ticket items like roofs, windows, plumbing, HVAC, driveway, tree-removal etc.I am doing this long enough here in Milwaukee that I own some properties I have rehabed twice.

If you ask the manager to justify a fee and he starts hemming and hawing, move on or require them to remove the fee.

Getting the rate back down to remove the incresed portion from the cash out refiance. 

I'm going to reiterate what's already been mentioned above, but I'm going to actually give you examples of why it's relevant to you to find a U.S. tax professional.1 - You're going to need to file U.S. taxes once you have property down here, there's federal filings, state filings, and sometimes local filings too2 - Tons of tax treaties between the U.S. and Canada that are easy to miss and can cost you a lot of money (important one with rentals - effectively connected income - if the professional you talk to doesn't know what this is, run away)3 - The amount of days you spend in the U.S. needs to be tracked and if you go over a threshold, all of your worldwide income could be taxable by the U.S.4 - Selling real property means up to 15% of your sales proceeds might not be available to you for years (FIRPTA)5 - Lots of nuance at the state and local levels, which both want to take as much money from you as possibleMain takeaway here is that you should find a U.S. based tax person.

At 2 properties removed the pools. 

I would send a lease violation notice that advises the tenant that they have violated the no smoking provision of the lease and that it needs to be cured immediately - to include complying (not smoking) and remove any odor/damage that may have resulted.

The only approach I’ve found effective is offering a deposit alternative, which lowers upfront costs for tenants without devaluing your property.

First off, all high skill requiring items let's remove those.

Our clients have used 1031 exchanges very effectively when they have a property that turns out to not be the right fit for them.

Stessa is not perfect but I like the capability, love the %5 interest rate on my associate account and have found the support honest and effective.