The dollar has been getting stronger not weaker. 

The homeowners were always shocked to find out that installing a fancy shower head like that, or even a smaller one, would probably mean changing out all of the piping supplying the shower as well.It's not always the case, but for us in this area we have lots of galvanized.

The fear of loss is stronger than the desire for gain.So if you can't get her on board, and you are serious about a forever life together,  perhaps try a strategy that has much less possiblilty of monetary loss, like a sandwich lease/option, or wholesaling. 

We disagree the market is still solid, supply is low, builders are not out producing demand, rates are low, defaults are low.

Copper supply and plastic drains are ideal.Make sure the heating works and is in good condition.

Go to Home Depot at 7am & any old guys who are there buying their own supplies would qualify.

I would say it is possible for a market to have an over supply of rentals if it is in an area of low demand.

if the plumbing to the units are separate, why wouldnt you just have the water utility install a separate meter, I have done this, the downside is each meter has a base charge, but the tenant pays the utility anyway, or my property manager does and bills it back to the tenant. all the lumber needs to do is locate the piping to each unit, install a Tee where the water comes in and install 2 sets of meter horns, and then needed lines to each units supply, I installed a set up like this a couple months ago on a duplex, took me about an hour and $100 in parts.  

Your attorney or agent should be able to supply you with all that info.

You can refinance and do the same thing.Then there is the business side of rental properties, which lets you deduct many business related expenses (home office, supplies, mileage, etc.) and Section 179 vehicle purchase expenses (and other equipment, for that matter) that are not deductible for purely passive investments.If you hold title in an LLC you can distribute out some income as self employment income, on which you will owe self employment taxes.