First, don't use REI Reply, it's just a white-labelled/private-agency version of GoHighLevel (the actual provider of the CRM) that they just mark up and charge you extra for everything you do (every text, email, etc is 2-10x more expensive than just linking twilio/mailgun to your GHL account, etc).With that out of the way, you can get to making workflows.

Just pick a route, get extra liability and focus on growing. 

It’s worth the extra effort to protect your investment.

That has led them to continue to jack up rent prices and often, push out good tenants for the sake of an extra $100/month.

As an overseas investor you likely won’t visit that often but there may be times you need to and you won’t want it to be a huge amount of difficulty getting there.

If we need customized items, like a Leasehold DOT on an airplane hangar portfolio, then we (borrower) pay extra. 

They are paying you an extra 5% per month.

So yes no capital gains tax, and didn't put any extra principal payment.

But there are also some real challenges, like dealing with lower tenant quality on average, the extra red tape, annual inspections, and the longer time it takes to get tenants placed compared to the open market.

We have a duplex with an extra flagpole lot that we are hoping to set up with an ADU for short term rentals.