If this property is hard to rent, or is functionally obsolescent (only 1 bathroom, no yard, etc), or has deferred maintenance that will be costly, or is in a location that is not appealing to Tenants, then maybe a sale would be a good option in favor of a property that has better Tenant appeal, which will likely increase rent and avoid long vacancies in between Tenants.An option to consider....

Peter Lohmann’s newsletter is a solid source for staying on top of national trends; I’d recommend subscribing if you haven’t already.In Texas, I’ve noticed increased activity, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

My plan for this year is improve my credit, get my real estate license (to increase my income on top of my W-2), possibly career transition into the property management space (to learn more), and save as much as possible and learn as much as I can.I’d love to house hack close to home but my area is so expensive it seems like it’d be close to impossible. 

Here’s a streamlined perspective:Your current approach, putting more down upfront, minimizes risk, increases cash flow faster, and allows you to build equity while reducing overall interest.

I’ve had deferred maintenance pile up because I couldn’t be in the homes myself.4.Other Considerations: There’s a lot that can slip through the cracks when you’re managing from afar.

They'll tap out in 3 months, max.Rates can increase.

I would be cautious buying in the saturated areas because there are so many similarly sized properties that price is becoming increasingly the deciding factor. 

Quote from @Paul Lucenti: Creative methods tend to increase risk.

I have written about it before in long past. 2) Yes, no PM and no tenant placement fee consideration.

That will most probably be offset by an increase in new mortgage costs and increased rates.