I realise I am coming in late on this thread and if you have read any of my posts you will know that compassion is very low on my list of priorities when dealing with business decisions.My primary concern regarding your decision is in regards to why you would not raise and maintain your units at market rent. 

There are plenty of renters that realise a pet in a rental is a dumb idea so just avoid the headaches.

Perhaps this is just my pre-REI brain talking.I realise that there are advantages to debt but that is a tough pill to swallow.  

I do realise that you may not need to do this anymore since you have communicated with her (or you may be like me and too embarrassed to do that!)

You father has left you with a monthly financial burden that you have not yet fully realised.

Anyone who has looked at utilities and understands the implications of climate change realises that electricity bills are going only one way - up.

Nope, because then the tenant realises that they can do this to the next landlord.

And that is why, after a long time of casually looking into REI, that I realised I need to get serous.

I realise it’s better to have first property close by but worried with questionable future in my area. 

@Tom Cvijanovic, actually I realised that @Ben Hart who started this thread, is who I wanted to connect you with.