What tips and techniques have you found most effective in increasing rental income and property value?

Previously I'd always used Stessa, which has a great Net Cash Flow statement view, breaking down the usual income/expenses, but also includes a section for Interest/Principal, and another section for CapEx. 

Leverage your W-2 income for better loan terms, explore private/hard money for off-market deals, and network with investors to expand your deal flow.Good luck!

A popular Excel template is Vertex42 as it automatically includes spaces for property details, rental incomes, expenses, and a summarizing sheet.

Akron is a very blue city and are not very landlord friendly - source of income protections, etc... 

According to Warren Buffet, Fannie and Freddie really failed because of high-leverage risk-taking in the fixed income arbitrage space, saying:“The portfolios are what really got them into the trouble…the managements of Freddie and Fannie tried to juice up the earnings, basically, because the insurance guaranteed that they were given that mortgage.

I planned on using funding for investing with the rental income. 

Though it may cash flow well based on their current debt service, when you compare the income it produces to the equity they have is it actually even a good investment for them from an ROI perspective or would they be better off liquidating and redeploying?

If you're looking for ways to accelerate, consider these options:Seller Financing – Some sellers may finance a portion of the purchase price, reducing your need for a large down payment.DSCR Loans – These loans focus on property cash flow rather than personal income, often requiring only 15% down.Private Money Lenders – If you can find a PML willing to work with you, you may be able to put less down.Partnerships – If you’re open to splitting profits, you could bring in a partner who funds the down payment.Since you’re okay with the slower path, just keep stacking cash, but these might be worth exploring to move faster!

Financial independence requires more than just replacing your current income.