I'm not trying to downplay the impact on those individuals who have lost a home (or worse) in the weather this year, but the media often makes it sound apocalyptic, which it's really not. 

Roofing & Paint are just normal maintenance, but  P&E are big impacts to your investments.

If I get fined, I will simply pass that charge along . . . as well as any impact from the tax increase.   

You truly make an impact everyday. 

that extra revenue in 2016 would impact us in our taxes any suggestions?

No body like these kind of surprises. 

How does a detached garage impact appraised value?

As you mentioned, your cash flow is now impacted. 

My question is how do I address the positive impact paying the principal has.

HI Dakotah,Its sounds like  from what you've mentioned in your scenario that you wont have very much issues qualifying from an income perspective since you're saving 50%+ of your income and you live in West Hollywood that means your income is probably $$$ more than sufficient since West Hollywood is one of the most expensive areas in CA other than south bay, santa monica, La jolla, rancho santa fe, Newport beach and couple other areas in CA.To figure out how much impact this car will have on your ability to qualify you can use a general gauge that every $100 dollars of car payment will lower your ability to qualify by about 20,000 in loan amount in general.