Hoping (SD) rental amounts have increased and renting it out/refinance if able/eating the cost. 4.

It's a riskier loan given you do not carry a social security, no US credit & no experience.Due to increased risk comes mitigation (Lower LTV & Higher Rates)

We plan to remove them all to protect from tax increases on our current primary, but I am afraid that now that the other properties won't have homesteads, we may see skyrocketing tax bills and it will eat into already small cash flow from rental income.Does anyone have advice for how to handle this situation other than just increasing rent?

if it is serious I have a couple of questions for you 1) what is the last syndication that you have seen that did not project a majority of the return from value increase?  

They may also require US credit history, although there are a handful that will not require a US credit report for an increased rate/ reduction in LTV. 

And if they are a hobbyist/part-time builder, then they should engage the proper professionals, i.e. a title officer, civil engineer, architect, contractor et al to assist in reviewing the project's feasibility.

If you see utilities increasing, is there a way that you can push this on to the tenant?

What is great about teak is wild teak is drastically diminishing while the demand is increasing.

People have failed twice now with the housing bubble and the recent meteoric increase in rates because they were gambling with the rates to save a percentage point.  

I will mention that a hot tub could really increase the frequency of bookings.