Our short-term goal is to replace the income she earns working as a Property Administrator for a large/national commercial real estate services firm. 

Hi Rob,I feel your and your fellow Iowan's pain.  

@Tracy Streich It must be a painful experience or tenants to go through changes like that.

Send mailers to estate Executors/Administrators 18.

Painful now, but it will resolve itself.Its possible that when the loan was initially made, the taxes or insurance or both were far off the actual amounts.  

The application does say this:"False information given above shall entitle owner to 1)reject this application, 2)Retain administrative fee/holding deposit, 3)Terminate applicant(s) subsequent right of occupancy.So given that I would think I'm covered? 

Until the stigma against breeds (rather than idiot owners) goes away it is an extra pain that they have to deal with, not you.

You xan pay the loan off in full anyvtime and you can take loans for the full amount every year, though details will vary based upon your 401k plan administrator.  

One idea to make meeting tenants less painful is to hold "open houses" and have all interested parties come through during those hours.

@Karen Margrave advice is great, just take non refundable payment for upgrades and change orders up front which is painful for the client and when they do choose to go that route they are more likely to close.