Can you PROVE that the landscaping increases rents of ability to rent? 

.- If interest rates remain high, this is further upward pressure on rents in the near-term, as the alternative to renting - buying a home with a mortgage, is expensive - this should increase demand for rentals. - Rents are also a function of supply - 2024 saw the most new construction of multifamily units in American history (nearly 575,000 estimated 2024 deliveries of new multifamily inventory), and 2025, while not a record setting year, will see deliveries top 500,000 again - a huge supply increase. 

If you can or do trust your PM company then speed can increase and costs decrease over time. 

By accelerating your depreciation schedules, you reduce your taxable income which in turn increases your operating cash flow.

We might consider a slight increase in 2026.

The allowable rent increase is not typically the big issue with rent control, the bigger issue is getting rid of poor tenants that pay their rent.

Here's my take on the decision:First, let’s look at the pros and cons of paying off your current short-term rental (STR):Paying Off Your STRPros:-You Eliminates your largest fixed expense (the mortgage), which increases your cash flow significantly.

Would this be an optimal win-win for risk reduction + tenant satisfaction?

I do not care what the source of the return is  Historically the highest return is via a value add and appreciation and is more so recently due to the recent rate increase versus earlier this century (before 2022).However, most new RE investors cannot handle extended periods of large negative cash flow.  

Cheap money and low rates produce euphoria, which increases flow of money to an asset, which pushes up the price to uninvestable levels.I think it's going to get worse than better in the short term.Gino