@Brady Ascheman To make the decision strictly from a Property Management standpoint you have to calculate your vacancy cost and cost to acquire a new tenant to know if a rental increase is even a smart play. 

Installing thermostats with regulated heat control (we pay heat) 3.

One cabin owner I spoke with mentioned that even mid-week bookings picked up when they offered flexible check-in times and promoted the property as a remote work getaway.A quick tip: before committing, check Johnson City’s regulations on short-term rentals.

Keep in mind local zoning laws and market conditions in Portland versus Salem—Portland might offer higher rents but stricter regulations, while Salem could provide better cash flow opportunities.Your design approach has proven successful, so continue focusing on appealing upgrades like kitchens and bathrooms, but prioritize cost-effective and durable materials for rentals.

Just be sure it’s documented and consistently applied to avoid any Fair Housing pitfalls.Another option is to stick with strictly quantifiable criteria—credit score, income ratio, etc.

I want to ensure I’m doing this the right way while keeping my finances organized and compliant with any regulations.

I’m slowly learning how to identify soil types but like you said….we can’t afford to be wrong right now  jurisdictions are different all over the US.. many still just use perk tests  others do the soil samples so you just have to deal with your current area and regulations.

Ensure you understand local regulations regarding permits; it’s usually a good idea for your associates to form an LLC for liability protection, but individuals can do renovations as long as they pull the necessary permits.

Keep in mind rent control is 1 thing, its a laws for existing tenants but some city's like Newark are so strict that you must get approval for what rent can be even after a tenant moves out and new ones move in. 

CRE CLO is still regulated though.