Most agents don't make a dollar for 6 months to a year and you need to go into it with significant reserves so you can weather the down periods. 

But, not all properties have split meters, which then you would have to include it in the rent and add a 'margin of error' in there since it could fluctuate hundreds of dollar from month-to-month.

However, you can actually save millions of dollars in taxes by starting during the blueprint phase.Here are some examples of ways to save on taxes:For conference rooms in a hotel, Instead of installing regular walls, if you install moveable walls, the walls could be depreciated using the rules of bonus depreciation.For a multi-family apartment complex, changing the model of the bathroom exhaust fan to a variable speed could help qualify for the energy credit which is $2,000/unit.For a large apartment complex, installing a ceiling fan could allow you to qualify for 45L tax credits.For a hotel, if the porte-cochere is detached from the hotel building, it could be fully deductible in year one as it could be considered a land improvement.

Lower-bracket wages on the rise - The same minimum-wage jobs from 2019 are now demanding 12-15 dollars per hour.

I am assuming this is going towards freshening up the place, which you will still want to do when you sell to get top dollar.

In the grand scheme of things, the interest rates are still VERY low, but a 1% difference can be hundreds of dollars of difference. 

And rarely do stabs at measuring affordability use real vs. nominal dollars.

But I would really look at the dollar amounts you are talking about.  

One a violent serial rapist, the other the same, but for minors.If they are tenants, one thing I learned is if they are not under a lease, raise their rent with a 60 day notice to a few hundred dollars over the going rent for the area. 

Use actual dollar for long term replacements.