I retired early nearly four years ago and needed to increase passive income to fill the income gap created by my paycheck's ending.

See #1.3 - They CAN give you an Option Consideration (100% of the price of the option) that is at least equal to what you used (you will have already closed on your purchase of the house) for the DP & closing costs.4 - If the above #1-3 are followed, the numbers read like this:   a - Your cost(s) are:         1 -  the DP and closing costs and,         2 -  the Mortgage Payments and Tax/insur per month   b - Your tenant/buyer (your income) gives you the Option Consideration and the rent, and           pays for the rest of the monthly expenses (i.e...utilities, etc...)5 - You profits are:   a - The spread between your DP/Closing and the Option Consideration   b - The spread between your monthly costs, and your monthly incomeJust don't mix the lease agreement with the Option to Buy agreement...in any way. 

It's factored into the cash-on-cash return and increases it so it makes the returns look much better and the property more attractive in certain ways.What is this principal reduction?

As her income increases, I look to pay down our line of credit and snowball our early loans. 

Tell your Realtor to insert this escalation clause with your offer:"Buyer will increase their offer to exceed any bonafide competitive offer by $1000 to a maximum of $XXX,XXX.

Other times we need to look at the income approach, or we can look back at a longer period of time until we can find a comp and then adjust for market increases. 

A quick glance at housing affordability in AustinMedian Household Income App (Forbes): $73,493 ($6,124/mos)Cost of Living (Forbes): 15% above nat'l avgMedian Home Cost (SFR-ABOR Stats): $302,250Assume 5% Down Payment Conventional Loan- 30 year amortization- $15,112.50 down pmt + any closing costs• Percentage of residents with less than $1,000 saved: 56%• https://www.gobankingrates.com/…/…/americans-savings-state/…- $287,137.50 amt financed- 4.375% interest rateHow the payment looks:PI= $1,433 mosIns= $105 mosTaxes= $458.33 mos (Assume $5,500/yr)HOA= $25 mos$2,021.3/mos PITIDTI’sHousing ratio= app 33% @ median income ($2021/$6124)FHA should be at 31% or less with Conv/VA/FHA being around the same although all have exceptions in placeTotal DTIThese hover between high 30%’s to manually underwritten total DTI’s in the 50’s or higher depending on the programs@ 45% Total DTI Ratio and assuming the above PITI pmt that gives a borrower approximately $734 per month in all other creditor debt (cars/cc/personal loans/etc)These numbers are not perfect but are rather a quick illustration of current housing affordability in Austin for Retail Buyers.Summary: Housing is becoming less and less affordable in the COA for end retail buyersAssuming increases in property taxes/insurance/interest rates on the horizon how does this affect us as investors?

One of the major considerations is the price you'e going to want to pay for rent or to buy.

A HELOC limit can be changed, interest rate increased or stopped (you can no longer borrow more even though you are below your limit). 

I know there's a process to get the rent increased, I just don't know what it is.