At the same time, have you and the neighbors talk to the town and hear your legal remedies, the town will be on your side, especially if you have written proof that it's decreasing property values, they'll probably be on his tail just like you are and can help you enforce in less than months probably. 

Does it just reduce his closing costs which ultimately adjusts his cost basis by decreasing it by $5k, making him responsible for it at the time he sells the property?

@Alex KosleyI agree with the above comments to pay off 401k loans and the car loan and your $850,000 home being a large expense and obstacle.What other investors have told me is to reverse engineer and figure out when I want to quit/retire early from my W2 job (with an option to work on a contract part time basis) then determine what I need to do to as far increasing rental income, buying rental properties, decreasing expenses, etc. 

.$6,000 for strategizing supposing you have a monthly 30 minute phone call is $500 an hour.If the cost is $10,000, and your tax rate is 35%, they would have to decrease your taxable income by atleast $30,000 for the cost to justify the cost. 

Or, I can refinance with them at 2% origination knowing full well that rates are likely to decrease by the end of the year, but I will be subject to a 3 year prepay so I will be stuck in higher rates, especially as the property is vacant. 

Not decreasing (deflation).

Some locations they raise your property value, some places they make no difference, and some places they will decrease your properties value.Consult with someone local with solar panel experience.

"They" just sell you on "tax benefits" and people think that will decrease their yearly tax. 

I am curious as to what root causes have decreased the Chicago inventory more than other major cities. 

In my opinion, the marketing and pricing always comes down to: will I lose more money on my midterm rental by letting it sit vacant or will I lose more money by decreasing the price?