I hope I don't come off as brash, but my first instinct is that the rent is either too high or the condition of the unit is of lesser standards to your competition.

An active informed realtor will know what the competition is and what will sell in a particular neighborhood.

There are hot fix & flip areas (Belmont, Severville, Biddleville, Wesley Heights, Villa Heights, etc) but the competition for these areas can result in some tight margins.   

When I bought my first property in 18' it was just as competitive.

With interest rates the way they are, it feels like the competition to get started is pulling back a little and the time to strike will present itself soon.

My insurance will not cover bully breeds, which are the majority of the rescue dogs I've seen on the websites.I feel like you should think about it if it makes your rental unit more competitive when it comes to finding tenants.

If you're trying to get a listing to sell a home, you're at a big competitive disadvantage if you can't put your home on the MLS... 

Is Real Estate investing becoming more competitive daily?

Hence, less competition. 

-Rent: The rent for the property should be competitive within the local market, but also high enough to generate a positive cash flow for the owner.Financing: It's important to carefully consider the financing options available for the property, including the down payment, interest rate, and loan terms.