I posted an ad on craigslist and on Zillow Rental Manager to try to find a family interested in moving in, but are there any other suggestions on what I could do/where I could post to increase my odds of finding someone willing to take over the lease? 

March 1, I offered to renew lease for June 1, no rent increase.

Between February and March my water usage went down by a few gallons but my bill increased from $58 to $84.  

So for each dollar saved in taxes by not increasing salary, I assumed earned 12% starting year 1, reinvesting each year those earnings, and the same on the 401k money. 

I've been investing here full-time since January 205 and think it's the best area in the country to invest.I invite you to our monthly Deal Maker Session meetings - first Tuesday of every month 7pm at the Airport Marriott.

I know that a benefit of paying off a loan is increased cash flow, but I am curious how not paying down a loan can also generate cash. 

I take out 20k of my own money plus the 40k and retire 1 of them and my cash flow increases $500 per month.

Cap Imp vs Repair Expense IRSI'm in the middle of doing some 2017 tax crunching last minute so of course I am on Bigger Pockets forum instead of finishing up my taxes :-)Anyways here's a useful tip on Cap Improvement vs Repair ExpensesMy strategy has always been to increase regular maintenance, repairs (Repair Costs) and spread out costs over time instead of the hands off approach to defer maintenance into larger Capital Improvement expenses. 

*looks at her bookshelf* Of his, I read (according to my bookshelf)- The ABCs of Real Estate Investing, Guide to Investing, OPM- Other People's Money, Real Estate Loopholes, Increase Your Financial IQ, Before You Quit Your Job, SalesDogs, and The Advanced Guide to Real Estate Investing.

I would increase that percentage with other factors, such as if the hourly painter came from a reliable referral source.In a nutshell, an hourly painter to me sounds inexperienced and better be waaaaay cheaper than everybody else.