And even that would be temporary. 

"I'm getting him registered Tuesday as an emotional support animal."

Sources of income that are temporary or that cannot be verified generally do not count.

Prices for apartments are high, while interest rates are creeping up.Anyway, if the market softens a bit, which I expect, it will be a temporary buyer's market. 

I feel like oftentimes the regular home-buyer decides they want to buy a home so they go and try to find a house that they like as quickly as possible, whereas an investor is focused much more on finding the right deal without the emotional factors that go into it.

I'm an optimistic person, but plans change with circumstances...it kind of sounds like your emotionally attached to this property.

If your goal is REI, rather than keeping a family home for emotional reasons, then I'd say sell it to reap the rewards of the appreciation you've already locked in (before any potential downturn chips away at it) and turn that tax-free capital into a nice portfolio of cash flowing properties in other areas or outside markets (depending on where the numbers make sense). 

Remember this is a business do not let your emotions cause you to make bad business decisions unless you do so recongizing you may be leaving money on the table.

Take the emotion out of it as best you can and rely on the cold-hard facts - the numbers. 

She then tries to figure out how to skirt your rule and someone recommends she claim the need for an emotional support animal.