This trick can work well when you're going to be on the loan together.

Have you noticed any market trend here?

Well, if you're going to self-manage, your software needs to have 2 high-level functions:1) Be able to enter financial records and create reports that are useful for you to see what you're spending, trends and exceptions.2) Tenant management - As a landlord, your main defense are good records and following service guidelines, both set mostly by your local govt. 

Rental prices look like they are trending up a little in the last few years.

In general I think trends in markets are unimportant to small investors (by the way I am a small investor). 

But trends are improving and as states and localities continue to moderate their COVID-19 policies, real estate activity is expected to continue to improve in the coming weeks.

Learn everything you can... from contracts, to terms, to formulas and market trends over the years.

The key is to figure out what works for you, from a design and cost perspective and of course, making sure it conforms to current market trends and just run with it, making changes periodically as markets change. 

Like they are trending downwards, but slowly?

Foreclosures are going to be on the rise. https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/study-suggests-pandemic-could-lead-to-foreclosure-spikeStay on top of the market prices and trends.