Get a nice downpayment (lower LTV better)Hope this helps

Can you do the lease renewal, but have lower rent for the first month and then increase it the second month (if that fits with 60 days' notice)? 

Market might be competitive but there is angles to stand out depending on what you are comfortable and able to handle, such as waiving an appraisal contingency, limitng inspection rights and time frames, closing time frames, allowing seller to stay-post closing, taking on difficult tenants, buying properties that might need repairs, etc.

As sellers realize that buyers cannot pay the same price for the same income stream as before due to the higher rates dampening overall buyer returns over that 6-month market cycle, sellers will eventually transact at lower prices, making it more apparent to sellers where the current market pricing is.

The lower unit is a basement/guest suite.

I will be lowering the asking price and seeing if that will help in the sale of these properties.

Lower the price2.

Question: Should I collateralize the loan (if using private or hard money), or rely on roll-over loans (to maximize the lower points and 3-4% rate)?

I have lowered the price significantly this year. 

@Jordan Miller most Class A & B rental properties bought since 2021 really don't cashflow from day one.Class B will take 1-3 years to start showing cashflow.Class A, 3-5 years.Current investors keep making the mistake of looking back at deals from 5-10 years ago when prices & interest rates were both a lot lower, but NOT rental rates.