I look at it as indictators of employment growth, wage rate appreciation, population growth, or a combination of mulitple factors.

Are you planning to parlay into different assets?

I am now looking to parlay some of that equity into funding these properties. 

Additionally, I'd wager that these "do it themselves" landlords are not experts on the new tangible property regulations enacted Jan. 1, 2014.

You've had it more than a year and clearly intended to hold it as an investment (not a flip), and you would be able to parlay that $135k into a great property in various markets (here in Bham you could get a solid B+ turnkey for that amount for sure). 

Eventually, I thought I'd parlay my rehab experience into a flip.  

I'd wager using the cash to buy another property and waiting 2-3 years to let the existing property appreciate is the way to go in the long run. 

I'd wager a guess he's getting asked to leave more than trying to move early because of the landlord. 

We hope to parlay these skills and income sources to get started in our own deals.

But, if you're really 100% confident, let's make a wager -- you give me 10 million to 1 odds, and we make a $10 bet.