The cool thing is you have multiple strategys and just because you choose one, does not mean you cannot switch to another one - maybe one fits your short term goals and another one helps down the line with long term goals.

If I want to instead make it so that my parents' names are exclusively on the mortgage (without mine), I'm wondering if a sale is the only way to go (the loan is not assumable) or if it's feasible to refinance to get their names onto the mortgage with me, then refinance again to get my name off of it in a year or two. 

Or you might choose to hire a handyman to do some work and manage them more closely than you would a more proficient contractor.

If you choose not to invest them, you'll have to pay tax (28%) on 50% of that, which would be 2.8k €.

Now some choose to do it with TK companies and give up the control factor that you have with your investments.

I've read a few of the BP books written by Brandon & David Greene and they say something similar to choosing a PMC.

Many investors who are in a similar position in my market (another HCOL/tenant friendly area) choose 1 of 3 options.1.

Bigger pockets also have webinars on how to choose a market to invest.

There is a lot to choose from out there so I am hoping to see what others have enjoy the most.

It's an extremely clear lease clause, tenant gets discount based on painting of rooms landlord chooses.