So even if you can make a little more, it will cost you more in time and energy.

Similar green energy investments could be considered if you can make the numbers work (credits on some types of low income housing can be north of 50%).Depending on how long these properties have been held, they could consider implementing cost segregation studies via a change in accounting method to accelerate some depreciation.The operating proceeds could be re-deployed into new properties where cost segregation is an option to accelerate depreciation to offset proceeds.If the properties are low basis and we are not maximizing the 199A deduction, maybe considering an S-Corp structure for management to be able to participate in retirement plans and also generate wages to use as a 199A base. 

In December, my wife and I bought an old 1984 3/2 split level home with a walkout basement in a great area of Raleigh NC and spent the next 5 months renovating it, spending a little over $40k and pouring every ounce of energy and time we had into it.

Has rent control worked anywhere on the planet or fails every time in the short & long-term.Why not have price control on college tuition, food, interest rates, new vehicle prices and energy ?

100% Understand.........I had 750 Tenants living in my MF Bldg's..........There are absolutely ways to get off the SFH treadmill, trading those assets in one shot and stepping into low-risk, single-tenant, 10+ year leased properties, backed by Nat'l Credit Tenants like FedEx, Amazon, UPS, and other solid companiesLooking for a better strategy, I combined my banking, real estate & Renewable Energy experience to develop the "Energized Real Estate" model. 

Rod is an ACTIVE mentor, which takes a lot of time/energy. 

Then you have the energy efficiency of the home, its size etc.

I don't think that will be that fast, because we need to solve the energy problem first.

Making more income requires a significant amount of time, stress, and energy which would come at the expense of my family.I've also gotten to the point where it's harder to delay gratification--it's not a skill my wife is great at (so delaying gratification frequently means I go without, and she doesn't) and spending $2000 to go see nephews and nieces is much more important than having an extra 5 shares of google or MSFT. 

What a waste of energy.