Given that you plan on having significant cash reserves I don't see much benefit for you to paying down your mortgage.Yes look into any kind of loan you can get.

The 60% number came from @Joel Owens as common if the owner pays utilities. 

Just draft up a letter to the tenants kindly redirecting them to the manager.

I feel kind of stuck because I can't list the properties so I don't know how to reach out to potential buyers.

This is not the kind of problem most Americans have!

It has been much more common to get a deep discount on the second mtg, since being underwater the bank realized that money is likely gone forever, so no harm in discounting it now.

It's my goal to do this kind of work for someone else with a decent portfolio for around 45 k a year while I gain the confidence and the skills to invest myself.

Can't speak for Zanesville exactly, but I invest in Circleville & Chillicothe, and Chillicothe is *about* the same distance from downtown Columbus.Personally, I wouldn't trade investing in this kind of area for anything.

Does anyone know what kind of a tax increase I can expect, or is there a resource where I can find this information?

Does anyone know what kind of a tax increase I can expect, or is there a resource where I can find this information?