However, this gives little wiggle room and I'd much prefer to find a way to make the tenants responsible, not only because it will reduce my costs, but also because it will reduce overall usage and be much more Earth-friendly. 

What if it's a triplex that needs three of a lot of expensive things, asbestos abatement, discover there is soil contamination because it used to have a small gas pump and holding tank under the driveway from when the 3rd unit used to be the driver's quarters in the early 20th century and it's leaking into the earth (I've actually come across that) and it totals way more than $65k?

There are far better investors with actual track records of investing with books about investing who offer down to earth, tried and true strategies. 

To make a long story short, I am using my rental income to purchase a new home that we will be living in and was prequalified with no issues (mortgage company hired third party firm to look at my rental income and returns to qualify my income, I gave them every document on earth, leases, taxes, insurance, mortgages, etc...) and then underwriting says no due to the fact that the last 2 years of tax returns (2017, 2018) I reinvested all my money into my rentals and they are deducting all that out of my income, ie. depreciation, capital improvements, supplies, repairs, utilities, maintenance etc... 

So if you buy it to rent, then will you find someone who is working and able to pay monthly. this is a big problem in PR. as far as natural disasters, there are summer storms (hurricanes) and right now we are dealing with earth quakes in Southern PR near the Ponce area.

I'm very down to earth and easy to talk with.

Well, the only answer I was looking for is how on earth would someone make money doing that.

I thought real estate deals were out of reach for me, but I am quickly learning that with the right leverage, I can move the earth. 

Why on earth would that change with rental payments to you?

.- one to bring you back down to earth: dont-just-dabble-in-real-estate-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- one in the middle: cheap-free-steps-today-pro https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 10-lethal-mistakes-avoid-real-estate-investment https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- telltale-signs-youre-not-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- vital-importance-mentor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-your-head-in-the-game https://royallegalsolutions.co...You might want to read and follow these threads:advice-to-your-20-year-old-self https://www.biggerpockets.com/...financial-advise-for-getting-started https://www.biggerpockets.com/...how-to-prepare-for-a-career-as-a-flipper https://www.biggerpockets.com/...new-to-wholesale-real-estate https://www.biggerpockets.com/...what-is-the-best-re-related-9-to-5-job https://www.biggerpockets.com/...Bonus for the weekend, my collection for starters (read the comments too, and then if you like the author, go check out what else they wrote):- stages-of-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- newbies-learn-real-estate-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 5-ways-to-know-youre-not-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- ideal-vs-desperate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- how-much-to-offer-property https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- hazardous-attitudes-of-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 21-traits-scammy-real-estate-investment-guru https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- youre-not-cut-out-to-be-real-estate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- questions-new-investors-should-ask https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- real-estate-books-beginner-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- what-separates-those-who-succeed-from-those-who-fail https://www.biggerpockets.com/...If that's not enough, ping me and I'll give you a whole collection of blogs and podcasts to follow.Bonus 2: 1) Read at least one hour per day every single day.2) Remember the quote by Jim Rohn "You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with."3) Check for toilet paper before sitting down.