Working smarter, making great connections and maintaining those relationships is what the long term winners do.  

Try to be kind and encouraging, but at the same time, maintain your expectations.  

My area is not growing rapidly, no large increase in valuations, no increase in costs to build/maintain and little job growth. 

It helps maintain the relationship. 

Is there a creative solution out there so we can both achieve our goals while maintaining the partnership?  

I'm going to have to look at the cost to install sprinklers and maintain & mow grass, versus the cost of commercial weed tarp, decorative gravel, simple drip irrigation system, and drought tolerant plants for that area. 

A property management company would be used to maintain these units at 8%.So the numbers make sense that this is a great deal.

If they get sick because they forgot to change a filter or maintain a chlorinator then that's their issue.  

My plans are dead on with yours as I am contemplating retiring this year at 36 from the sheriff department and concentrate full time on real estate.

., you may also find having just two units helps you keep them cleaner, better maintained, etc than larger scale competition)...