With rates decreasing, I could see some buyers entering the market, but right now there's a real opportunity to find some diamonds in the rough.

I used to comment and post frequently and this has decreased a lot in the past month. 

Recently, we implemented an aggressive SEO strategy to pair with our PPC and we've seen almost a 60% decrease in overall cost per lead, which has been a gamechanger.  

Despite global and domestic tensions, rents remained stable.Rentals - Availability by MonthThe number of homes for rent decreased slightly MoM in August, bucking the usual seasonal trend.Rentals - Median Time to RentTime to rent increased marginally MoM (from 23 days to 24 days), but remained healthy.Rentals - Months of SupplyThere are only 1.4 months of supply for our target rental property profile.

My income has decreased from my 9-5 and I desperately need to make up the difference through my real estate portfolio. 

From a quick glance, you could probably cashout $100k and still pay the same or less than you pay now with the decrease in the rate. 

Suppose rents increase at 2%/Yr over the next 30 years, inflation averages 4%/Yr, and your current total rental income is $10,000/Mo, here’s what happens to that income in today’s dollars:In 10: years $8,235 (a 17.65% decrease in buying power)In 20. years: $6,782 (a 32.18% decrease)In 30 years: $5,585 (a 44.15% decrease)So even though your rent increases to $12,190 ($10,000 x (1 + 2%)^10) after 10 years, inflation erodes its value to the equivalent of $8,235 today.

Focusing on paying down the principal, means you are building equity in the property and every bit of equity you gain, that equity decreases the total return the equity is providing you. 

However, this will decrease your tax basis in the property and any amount you deduct as depreciation will be taxable at the 25% capital gains rate for real estate when you sell the property (assuming you do not take a loss on the sale).As has been mentioned already, taxes are a tricky topic and the laws change all the time.

It looks like it stopped decreasing in population and even started to increase a little.