Keep reading, educating and working on your personal finances.

Hi,I have a few properties in Toledo would love to connect, and help answer your questions.

Would the fact that our house is in the ~ $850k valuation range influence your advice? 

I wouldn't budge on lowering the rent because that devalues your asset. 

I think your best approach is to pretend you are the investor yourself, calculate build cost (mortgage with interest) + Maint / cap expenses/ management fees according to your zoning and then compare that to the average rent in that neighborhood.

@Dan Dares TMYou can use your familyMember but they will need to be a part of the deal and the bank will most likely want them to personally guarantee the loan.

I'm always a buyer and always  seller, and have bought and sold over 1,000 properties for my own inventory. 

What types of properties/strategies are you looking into for your first deal?

Go to the magnifying glass next to your profile image up top.

Patience can be your best friend and if you attempt to over leverage a property it can come back to hurt you.Some will recommend buying subject 2 where you could take over an existing mortgage that could be at a substantially lower rate - but if the lender finds out and calls the loan that could also be very bad.