If for nothing more than to beat small settlements out of them to get out of the litigation and help their client afford the legal fees..

My thoughts are we will never be able to beat the system but if we can get one bank to admit what they do is fraudulent I'm sure we can get more.

Private money lenders or construction loan specialists, on the other hand, are faster and more flexible, though their rates and terms will likely be less favorableFor a more rural area, local banks will almost certainly understand the market better, but connecting with private lenders who specialize in spec homes could provide more agility.

Will we see home prices continue to beat year-over-year values yet again!?!?

Can I beat inflation.Paying off a mortgage does none of those things.I'd suggest if you are able to pay off a mortgage, you instead use it to buy another "cash flowing" property. 

I would hire out a leasing agent and work a bonus structure in that allows for them to exceed the 5% given they beat my planned vacancy number. 

They’re built for heavy use and have faster drying times—usually 30–45 minutes—without needing major electrical changes.If you’re up for a bigger investment, adding extra stackable units in the garage could be a great long-term fix, though it’ll mean some electrical work and setting up proper ventilation.I’d probably go for the commercial upgrade in your current space first—it’s quicker and might solve the bottleneck right away.

A HELOC is probably going to be at least 8% right now, so would you be making more than that on your money if you choose to take out a HELOC to fund the work?

Just like New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Northern NJ, Fairfield Connecticut and most of Massachusetts, you cannot beat the appreciation and demand for rentals when compared to OH, AL, MS, etc.As I tell everyone, learn to play the game, and you'll do fine in just about any area. 

One of the great things about having multiple residents per property per year is that you can iterate faster than with an LTR.