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.

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. 

I usually mitigate it with bright white or cream trim on the facia and window/door casings.

During the winter, we had a problem with ice damming at the front of the house.