I am going to appeal taxes in March and start work immediately.

Taxes - double check if you haven't already on the Baltimore City public works site to get the actual bill - plan to appeal if they are high, but run with the as-is number in your numbers for now. 

At least this gets you passed the visual detector for clients. 

I understand the frustration in getting out-bid by cash offers, and can understand where the appeal would be in going private money, so if you do go this route, I would make sure to refinance out of said private $ loan into a conventional loan as soon as possible after you've acquired the property. 

This is really one of the few times that FHA is a desirable loan type because of the mortgage insurance, but the low barrier to entry and the ability to use it with multiple units (up to 4) is really appealing to many. 

Then they sit with all these houses that are slowly but surely losing that new home/latest style appeal and try with the incentives again.I doubt anything will change this time around.

So that could add $200 per month, especially if the house has carpet.The bottom line is that you see $500-$1500 per year on your properties but whenever a tenant leaves who stayed for more than four years, that you have a bill of $2000 paint and $2000 carpet (hence the appeal of luxury vinyl planks).That's why it is much harder to break even on a $750 than on a $1400 rent.Let us know what you find ^^See https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/03/0... and https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/88/topics/240...

But in our marketing campaign we're taking the family business angle and giving potential clients the ability to deal with either myself or my wife, I'm hoping the option will appeal to both sexes.

I don't think it's a pipe dream but you will need some Reno to increase these kitchens and bathrooms appeal (find out what's trending in the market for rentals). 

Obviously this won’t help you much once a potential buyer walks into the house and it is empty, except in that you could whip out those pics to help them visualize the space as they walk through.