Understand, real estate may not be the solution you are looking for.

With a push to bring more manufacturing back to the U.S. and more employees returning to office work, there will be a greater need for mass transit solutions rather than building more roads lowering the quality of living if you want that SFH with a yard.

Evernest said they had to pull a permit from the city, have the stove inspected to make sure it was safe for the repairman then they could look at it.

That is money you could be getting as rent.. instead they probably keep the rent a little below market so they can pull more money for themselves/ the PM company.  

We want to pull the trigger and start investing in Japan.

Offer to buy them a few indoor portable heaters until you find a solution. 

I would suggest buying another LTR where you are and then next, pull out some equity to purchase a MTR property.  

Comps do not lie, if she pulled similar ones then that's what it is but if the agent did not take into account the bedroom and lot size that would change the value.

So before I transfer ownership back and start a seasoning period, I thought I would ask if there were any solutions I am not finding.  

Then pull a heloc of refinance it to do the next house.