I know we just bought it but I see huge upside/potential.  

What makes the rental appealing to potential tenants? 

The less debt the less potential returns (assuming you have positive leverage...which you should) but there should be less risk.A lot of these questions can be (and have been) solved through financial theory/academia/etc. 

I doubt I will find anyone this specialized, but can't hurt to ask.   

Hi folks, we are looking at potentially retrofitting an existing SFR with sprinklers in Seattle (city code might require for a new backyard build).

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

For example, you could find deals that have good long-term potential and buy enough money down so they throw off a bit of cashflow, but not so much equity that it limits your ability to scale.

But the house is only 10 years old, it's huge, it's in a decent area that's still being developed (Eastern East SF Bay Area), and it has the potential to earn us some money.Does the earning potential of the house make up for the headaches of renting in CA and having to pay a boatload of taxes on the equity when we eventually do sell?

How do you all handle annual increases to adjust for taxes and potential insurance hikes and would you have them sign a new MTM agreement or add an addendum? 

It also has the potential to be a B quadrant business and I quadrant investment (for those of you who know the cash flow quadrant).It's great to get training but make sure you trust the source.