This depends on if you are using the Cash or Accrual method of accounting for tax purposes.

BUT WAIT, there's more:  Then when I hit submit, I got a message "your payment method has been removed successfully. 

Sure, I could look for a higher paying job, but I was wondering if anyone has any creative short-term methods to improve my ratio.

I could also just do RUBS on each of the 4 units based on # of occupants or square footage or another method (which is best???).

Is the only way to pay for a Reno for my childhood home to sell my current home or is there a method I'm not familiar with that I can use my current homes value to help me out??

Another great option is the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), where you buy a fixer-upper, renovate it, rent it out, and refinance to pull your cash back for the next deal, and this is a good route because most private lenders can go higher LTV than on a rental loan! 

Does anyone have any tips on how to find the right guys or methods that you use to vet people? 

This is the simplest method, but it also means your tenants are more likely to abuse the utilities by leaving windows open with the heat or A/C running, leaving lights on, ignoring the toilet that constantly flushes on its own, etc.3.

I've been following the build-to-rent method for some time and even lived in one for 2 years.

I picked up the BRRRR method book and feeling confident in setting it all up (we did a similar process for our Airbnbs).