We do know the border had its issues, but currently illegal crossing are lower compared to when Trump left in office.

And talking with my leasing team, the properties that are moving quicker are on the lower end of the rental range $1450-1600.

With the equity you’d free up, paying off $50k in personal debt and boosting your credit score while freeing up $3k/month sounds like it could significantly lower your stress and open doors for future projects.That said, selling means you’d lose a cash-flowing asset, even if it’s not huge.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

., Smyrna, Decatur, Marietta), new construction or turnkey rentals for lower maintenance, or small multifamily properties for stability.

If your rental rate is below the market anyway, a Tenant might consider this to be win as they would get the lower rate in the beginning and just rise to the level they were looking at everywhere else.Step clauses can be written right into the lease, or created by using 3 month lease terms with an auto-renewal at the step up rental rate price. 

They will be able to update you on what you need to do to help fire proof your home, and if there are any other options to lower insurance like external fire sprinklers, sealing up, attic vents, defensible space, etc.

As you suggest lowering down payment to buy more properties is one way, although the downside is greater risk in event of down cycle and more time to manage required.  

Lower returns are an issue as well. 

The price points do make it hard to cash flow even with the lower interest rate subject tos.