August Smart locks, iGMS auto responder, Ring outdoor cameras.

Also, depends how long you plan to keep the home & still live in it, if you have sufficient Reserves/savings etc (they should be asking you these things).Debt Consolidation is a valid reason to pay off higher interest rate debt such as: credit cards, auto loans (depending on rate/payment), student loans, HELOC's etc.

There is also a pool and a parking space available and the surrounding area is quiet, safe, and has access to good schools and is closeby the Strawberry Village Shopping CenterOutdoor ViewKitchenBedroomLiving RoomBathroomPatioQuestionDo I need to lower the rent on the unit in order to get a tenant quickly?

I had an old property dropped by Allstate and Auto Owners was the only one I could get to cover it.

Please excuse auto correct!!!!  

You could easily just pick a simple well rated dividend stock, and put that $ in, turn on auto reinvestment drip, and in 10 years early, pay off the remaining mortgage balance in full AND still have a considerable holding in that stock account to boot. 

The areas by Pilsen, Little Village, McKinley Park, etc have a lot of frame houses with actual pieces of trees used... those are pretty tough. 

if you rent and are a landlord you need landlord insurance. if you own and occupy you need homeowner insurance. if you rent and occupy you need renter insurance. if you own a motorcycle you need motorcycle insurance. if you own a car, you need auto insurance. if you own a boat, you need a marine boat owner's policy :)

If it were on excel, it would be great if it had auto-calcs that could be updated every month or quarter as cash accumulated and debt was paid down.

For example, I was looking at a house a couple of weeks ago in a subdivision with no HOA and saw that the residents at one property were essentially operating an auto repair service out of their garage.