If you're looking to park cash and play the debt pay down game is a great time for that as rates are low but it's difficult to find significant upside right now and will require a lot of time and effort on your part. 

I got all the personal mortgaging out of my system and then made the switch, but alas I do not have a time machine I could offer you.It is what it is.

(in fact, despite living in Nashville I spend most of my time in East TN now, as it's the primary real estate market I serve, specifically working with long-distance investors on finding great STR cabins)  @Matt Castle is right that the market is super hot, but they're still cash flowing machines, which is why it's staying hot.

@John NeffSet for Life, Scott TrenchCommunity, Peter BlockThe Infinite Game, Simon SinekRyan Holiday Trio:-The Obstacle is the Way-Ego is the Enemy-Stillness is the Key

They might go up if you materially improve the property or a sale may trigger a new appraisal, but that's all part of the game.

Our end game is to hold this as a rental for a long time so we want to use tenant proof materials, appliances, hardware, ect.

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.

And it's a numbers game.

They want you to have some skin in the game.

I'm not new to this game, but that's only because I got started at one point.