Some states are on a "budget based" system where the government budgets dictate the amount of taxes due and other states are on the "Rate based system where there is a set property tax rate that doesn't change when market values go up or down resulting in taxes owed mirroring the market.Property tax laws very greatly though out the county so its very important to understand your local rules.

I think your market dictates some of these factors, but for my local market I see the same thing.

All appointments are a simple guideline in that part of the world unless you dictate the urgency there will not be any.

So they dictate the rent or do I have the choice to tell them what the rent will be?

this stimulates investments into business's and there are rules to follow  like the note holders cannot be direct relatives  etc. the cost of setting up  dictates its only worth it for 7 figure and above cash investments.. 

Your HOA docs may well dictate who is "responsible".

And of course , the price of oil which dictates a lot of inflationary costs due to shipping is fairly low despite two wars going on.

They mistakenly believe that a lease some how dictates how long a tenant will stay in the property.

Sounds like creeping towards Cuba, Russia, China... dictators go vey slowly and make everything sound "nice" on the surface, until everyone is equally poor (except the Party Bosses, they have all the goods and means of production)

Here are some numbers from 2016 project, I purchased a house in Melbourne for $420k and got designs for 3 townhomes cost $20k, just employed architect and onsold in 12 months for $850k to a builder/contractorThe trick with this one is the builder/contractor must have 20% net profit and the designs must be very good and what the market dictates otherwise it wont sell Australian property market in general is now in decline.