From my experience, to succeed in multifamily investing, focus on networking through local meetups, online forums, and professional connections, leveraging your CPA skills to analyze deals and optimize deductions.

The insurance quote is $1476/year, deductible $2500, 300k liability. 

After deducting your payoff, you've only got a little left over which would go toward covering refi costs (and you'd likely come up a bit short).

In addition, the tax implications are better on a refinance which you will be able to deduct. 

Then you pay your deductible.

Once the municipal/state requirements are all set, do a thorough screening for any prospective tenants, have a solid lease ready to go, and take move-in pictures to have on record for any security deposit deductions after they move out.

I would have talked to them BEFORE cancelling the painter and given them the option of which way to go, but since you already cancelled the painter I would simply charge them prorated rent for the 5 days until the painting is complete and deduct that from their deposit.

It offers tax benefits, such as mortgage interest deductions and depreciation, reducing taxable income.

Make a $1,000 tax deductible donation.

However, Peerspace has $100 deductible for qualified damages which is not so great for minor damages, or even some damages that cause around $200-300.