Thus, my taxes should be higher because of the income I generate.If I pay off the primary, I'll increase the amount I'm able to save monthly not having the mortgage, while also keeping the income generation lower on the rental because the mortgage remains open.Any thoughts would be appreciated! 

I will mention that a hot tub could really increase the frequency of bookings. 

The property was leased for $2,150 per month.Refinance and Return on InvestmentAfter a stabilization period of 6 months, the property was refinanced to leverage the increased value created through renovations.

It wasn’t how I wanted to kick things off, but I worked with a contractor to get the bathroom fixed and functional.Once that was behind me, I focused on improving the building and maximizing income:I installed a shared washer and dryer for the tenants, a major upgrade that added convenience and increased the property’s value.I rented out the two garage parking spaces, bringing in consistent revenue.I also raised rents for the second- and third-floor tenants I inherited to be just below market-rate.

This chart does not include the latest increase in rates, but in a couple weeks we should have an update.I saw several places that showed increased rates:https://www.verticalbuilders.com/blog/what-to-expect-in-q4-2... 

If you see utilities increasing, is there a way that you can push this on to the tenant?

It's a riskier loan given you do not carry a social security, no US credit & no experience.Due to increased risk comes mitigation (Lower LTV & Higher Rates)

Further, BPOs and appraisals show the properties have increased 50 to 60% in value during the last 3 years.

What would you do from here, pay them off sooner to increase the cash flow, or keep leveraging? 

While borrowing for a down payment is risky, increasing your savings will lower your interest rate.