I am trying to go into this investment with the mindset that we are making passive income first, gaining equity second, and whatever we get appreciation wise is icing on the cake. 

The rest is just icing. 

I do not leave garbage disposals or ice makers in any of my units.

You treading on thin ice here by intermingling your distinct LLCs.

Steve has excellent reputation - I especially like his company because they use an electronic radon measurement device (chronograph) rather than the two hockey puck sensors. 

Option 1 has no pets, just the icing on the cake!

We talked to a guy who owns a lot of real estate in the area, and he suggested we buy a SFR and sell it in a couple of years because he thinks the market is going to rise, but from everything I've learned on bigger pockets, that's supposed to be the icing on the cake, not the purpose of your buy...  

Appreciation is just icing on the cake.

However, this morning we had a lovely ice/rain storm. 

Was thinking of using rental home for renters coming into town for football, hockey etc games.