I get more concerned when I see credit cards from designer fashion stores, huge car loans outside their means, etc.

You will get multiple opinions....no right or wrong way as long as you follow the state laws on how much you can increase it and when....Different "camps"- Leave it at current rent for 6 months or so get a feel for the unit and tenants- don't rock the boat on day 1- Slow increase over 6-12 months- rapid changes results in turnover and that kills profit- Jump right to market rent.... if they move then fine....fix it up, get market and YOUR tenant choiceYour choice......Biggest factor to consider.... the rent may be low but fit the unit...... ie. lots of deferred maintenance, old style/design, Capex coming up etc etc..... so to get market rate on the open market, you may need to sink decent $$ to get it fixed up to compare to the other units on the open market right now at that rate....

As a side note: There are 2 outdoor lights, but each one is separately controlled by each unit, as they have different parking and walking areas, so there shouldn't be an issue designating these to the assigned units, correct?

My concern is with the process of deciding on home design overall.

I honesty don't have a better use for the few hundred in extra cf I'd get by stretching the payments out 'til death as the word muerte, I mean mortgege, is designed

It looks like it was designed more for multifamilies or apartments than for single families. 

I would be open to the idea provided they have a sound business plans and are willing to provide a design plan for the space. 

Chrome’s cheap, but I’ve hit far too many challenges with things that should just work, like uploading folders or files over a certain size that simply fail, kicking me back to underpowered apps designed for a phone.

I have a county willing to work with my conceptual design.

One designer is offering a flat fee of $3k for 3 months of consultation.