If you DO increase the rent, the last month's deposit interest is withheld because it now boosts the deposit up to the new last month's rent value.

Small towns can get cash flow, but far more susceptible to dramatic shifts in downturns.  

Quote from @Alex David: Rent rates vary dramatically based on location, quality, amenities, etc.

It is important to scale, but you'll dramatically improve your results if you scale smartly.

The boosted (leveraged) Cash on Cash return you get by absorbing debt is created by taking on investment risk.

I work mostly in Fairfield and Hocking county (southwest of Columbus) and we have definitely seen a boost - right now it's mostly people who are looking to get out of the city and all the development...selling their land/farms and coming here to find the privacy again! 

Allowing pets can be a little of an income boost as well.

Do you think that the dramatic shift to EXP from other agencies is just starting or began last year and is continuing or slowing down?

It will be interesting what measures the executive team at Disney takes to boost attendance and customer retention. 

It's been my strategy for my last 8 deals and if you don't need a lot of cashflow tomorrow, it can boost your buying capacity a lot and help you do 4 deals a year instead of 1.