I'm also not factoring the $200 cancellation fee into the lost rent, because I consider it a separate charge for my time and energy of having to re-market.At the end of the day, they broke their contract and should be held to any extent necessary.

You can use Census data as it is a national database that can project future economic outlook, job growth, etc. 

CNBC: Housing is providing another in a line of troubling signs pointing to an economic downturn.https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/02/home-sales-point-t...https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/02/home-sales-point-t...

My thought is that me being able to put 100% of my energy into the project will save money on its own.

Insulation and energy saving items are the only things that consistently return more than you spend, but they only on the order of 102% or so.However, if your local market is a hot seller's market, you probably don't have to do anything at all.

If the properties are providing a good roi and investor has energy or good management in place then keeping them is certainly an option. 

Jon  I would ad in vacant homes into your spread sheet.. and the reason in much of the mid west that you don't have building permits being pulled is exiting inventory is far cheaper there is no economic reason to build new.. so be a little cautious with that one.I like looking at scarcity.. 

You are unlikely to find it makes economic sense to go down the SEC compliant route for a small transaction.

I read somewhere recently that rent control is not favored by anyone who understands markets and economics. 

Definitely the most economical and effective way.