@Diana Ag just to answer your question about CCIM, go to their website CCIM.COM and go to the 'find a CCIM' menu item and you can search in any city.

Hovering over it creates a drop-down menu and Report Abuse is a choice at the bottom. 

Those alerts can also be seen if you mouse over the "Inbox" on the upper right menu bar and scroll down.For solid rental screening BP recommends MySmartMove.com.

It's great that you're thinking ahead on how to optimize your systems. 

I just want to optimize my REI the best way possible.

It's an active business, not passive so I believe that requires continually evaluating the property, adjustments to decor, etc may be needed as well to make sure I'm fully optimizing the property.I have a lot of home renovation experience from my own personal home and my LTR's already so I'm very used to this kind of work.

There are people who have financed their entire portfolios over decades with section 8 alone and if they are achieving optimal profits, they would argue its without question worth it 

If some funds are available, is the standard 25% down 30 yr fixed loan optimal or would you recommend different financing?

That said, always on the lookout to optimize rates!

I wouldn't characterize it as "rough", as rough in LA or Indianapolis means significantly more crime and boarded up houses.We are now in the fortunate (and somewhat surprising) situation where we are sitting on a property with a decent amount of unrealized equity, but which at the same time, is highly sub-optimal in terms of size/layout, so we are trying to consider/evaluate our options.It is possible that the best course of action may be to do nothing, but any ideas/thoughts are greatly appreciated.Thanks for your input.