We were offering $300 off first month and just recently increased the incentive to 50% off first month.

I recommend you do this annually to adjust for utility increases and other variables.

So is it equally illegal when the large landlords drop rental prices in a building as vacancy increases and the market softens?

Despite the storms in W FL we are seeing YoY rate and occupancy increases 24-25.  

One group wants housing prices to increase, the other wants them to decrease. 

Household Debt Rose by $184 Billion in Q1 2024; Delinquency Transition Rates Increased Across All Debt TypesMay 14, 2024

What is your Annual Rental Rate Increase look like?

Follow up with an email to the agent and bullet point your case, which increases the chance that the owner will actually hear them7.)

This will increase the return above what can be obtained on a passive investment.The flipside of having the power to control everything is that it can be alot of work (and a full-time job if a person is putting in sweat equity).

This would greatly increase cash flow and create equity.