Perhaps you can collect an additional deposit for utilities to raise your deposit monies.

Say nothing about the cats and just raise the rent on renewal. 

How much will it enable you to raise rent? 

Enjoy your home, raise funds elsewhere and your equity will probably be even more in 18 years when the kids are done in school.

Ways I try to cash flow is a higher down payment, but there goes all my investment money, or raise rents, but compared to sources like zillow and property managers, the new projected rents are so much higher than surrounding rents, I can't make an offer for fear of having the place unrented or rent it at market rates and pay out of pocket. 

Currently looking at a few properties to fix-n-flip to raise some funds and looking for good deals that I can get on owner finance, since banks seem to want 30% down, which is good for equity and cash flow, but limiting when it comes to purchases.  

Evict the trouble maker, raise the rent bc of required repairs, do you self a favor a beginning monthly inspections, and move on...

I had to raise my rents to even get interest is the place, and it worked.  

I'm 21 making $35,000 a yr now while still in college full time.I read an article saying the FED might raise interest rates.

The cookie has already raised expectations too much.Supposedly the secret to these cookies has been revealed: pulverized oats, and supposedly there is a good copycat recipe out there.