Appraisers are supposed to look at location, configuration, size, condition, style and then after all of that is done, then they can get super picky with aspects pertaining to lot location, lot size, or uniqueness of the property or whatnot, such as the floor plan.

I am sensitive to the notion that we're in a pandemic and as far as I know nobody in the building is struggling from COVID-19 circumstances yet the size of the monthly loan payments is going to force my hand to bring many of the units up to market rates.

Find a decent size home and rent out the rooms if you like to live in it. 

At any given price point there's tremendous variety in size, amenities and location, and any individual will prioritize these different. 

You could plan to move Up in size and ammenities and not horizontally. 

For example when looking at a property for a flip or value add BRRR you will need to analyze comparable sales similar to the property you are researching to estimate As Is market value, then you need to analyze sales of similar size but on the higher end of the market to determine the As Repaired Value (ARV) and the renovations required to compete at this higher value. 

This is also a function of size, i.e.

You could also decrease the size of the property you want to purchase.

It's either a 2/1 with two large living spaces or a 3/1 with one large bedroom, two decent size bedrooms, and one living space. 

Homes of similar condition and size appraise for up to $50,000 in that area, in the current market.