However, if you're using a discount company that's allowing you as the owner to set the rent price, approve or deny apps, etc. then your issue could be one of many things. 

Common for tenants to ask for rate reduction, rare owners give it.I suggest you do everything you can to keep the tenants if you can. 

Even the largest owners of real estate in the country don’t do this, and they try and squeeze every penny

Meaning that 75% of the rents on all 3 or 4 units, even the owners unit, must at least equal the total monthly payment.

Dodd Frank will apply...see below.Not More Than 3 Properties Exemption Any person or entity cannot provide seller financing to an owner occupant more than 3 times in a 12 month period without using a MLO (mortgage loan originator).

I purchased property 11 years ago and the owner financed the loan for me.

I'd love to share ghost stories from the point-of-view of the haunted house owner haha;)

In speaking with fellow investors they agreed, if you're willing to owner occupy and the numbers work, it's a great way to get in without having a ton of capital.

I fail to see how STRs benefit anyone other than the owner.

What you're referring to is the fact that 70% of the owners have to agree to it in a condo building.