All these things will get easier and faster with time.  

Fuel oil.

I'd probably see which is faster over time and go that route.

This removes that expense from the bottom line, forcing appreciation higher.5) Incremental rent changes in the 12 increase value faster i.e. raise rent $25 for both, and GI goes up by 1800 on the 6, but 3600 on the 12, thus at a 10% cap rate your value goes up by 18,000 for the 6, and 36,000 on the 12.

It will cost, but you can get further faster than a letter to the tax mailing address.  

Now my somewhat dormant interest in RE investing is back with a vengeance, fueled with an influx with a few tens of thousands of dollars, I've been reading like crazy, attending local REIA meetings and researching the market in my area.

Yes, it requires a bit more work, but right now I am comfortable doing that because the cashflow helps me save faster to continue buying other homes.

The faster an agent/broker/property manager can see that your serious and have done some research.

The last low-hanging Seattle-centric REI fruit left is Snohomish county, so we'll be growing even faster for years to come.

Do properties around $400K appreciate faster/more than a property that is $800K or is it just whatever the appreciation rate in the neighborhood?