Through sweat equity, I've held most of the properties for at least a few years.

OR take my time with it, put in more sweat equity, and shoot for closer to early-mid December. 

Especially if you out some sweat equity into the property to boost value, you'll want that accounted for in the new appraisal amount.

The biggest thing I think I learned after a few years of doing this is to not overreact and not sweat the small stuff - don't instantly jump on somebody making a minor lease violation or minor behavior problem.   

Other things you can try once you buy your first property or two is doing seller financing, private money, or since you have a little more time on your hands maybe try to get into rehabbing where you can earn money by putting in some sweat equity to the home.

I don’t sweat that little stuff.

Mine is pretty nice, so I actually like going there.I think it is great you have found ways to cut spending, but noticeably missing from your list is sweat equity.

Do this until YOU FEEL as if you have put enough sweat equity into your place, that it is now worth a lot more.

I’ve put about $50k in over the last couple years and a lot of sweat equity.

I have many friends who pay much more to rent crappy places (and help to make their landlords rich) than I pay to own in a very nice place, because my mortgage remains steady while their rents have continued to climb year in and year out. and in lower value areas which I would deem as 250k and under you can get those houses paid off in 10 to 15 years no SWEAT.. and now never have to pay mortgage or rent.I remember in 09 in the middle of the crisis.. some areas of the US was probably everything considered the cheapest safest place in the world to live.I was buying new or near new homes at courthouse steps in Fort Myers for 25 to 35k EACH... it was tempting to buy one of those and call it a day  LOL..