If you were to combine several of the units together to the point there are only 5 units in the building, would this destabilize the whole building and be able to bring the rents up to market rates once the leases laps? 

RyanBanks/CUs Offering a HELOC Product for NOO Property in CaliforniaBank of the West (I think they will do this for a single family, but not for a condo/townhome)California Bank & Trust (up to 55% Combined LTV)California Coast Credit Union (70% CLTV)East West Bank (60% CLTV)Fremont Bank (65% CLTV)Pentagon Federal Credit Union (70% CLTV)SAFE Credit Union (70% CLTV)Union Bank (up to 65% CLTV)Wells Fargo (up to 60% CLTV)Wescom Credit Union  (70% CLTV)

Applicants must have a combined gross income of at least three times the monthly rent.

As a guest, I probably care the most about a good bed and I'm very "function over form" for the most part, but it's got to look good in the pictures to get me there, right?

Ideally, you want several employers to spread the risk associated with a dominant industrySupply and DemandCensus.gov under the “Selected Housing Characteristics” tableDetermine by analyzing the five-year rental vacancy rates and median rental rates in the market, as well as the year-on-year change in the number of building permits created for commercial properties (five or more units)The number of five or more unit building permits won’t tell us much on it’s own.However, a huge red flag to you would be when you see an increase in the number of permits in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsAs vacancy increases, median rent and new building permits should decrease… and vice versaBest Case:Low or decreasing vacancy rates and increasing median rentsDecent Case:High vacancy rate that is decreasing Stagnant vacancy rateWorst Case:Increasing vacancy rate and/or decreasing median rent An increase in the number of building permits (5+ units) in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsMiscellaneousResearch Other Characteristics relevant to the strength or weakness of a marketExamples:Landlord vs. tenant-friendly state?

I'm looking at options, and might use a combination of that and great stuff in any little cracks, light fixtures etc to reduce the flow of air from the room to the attic.

Then it comes to your short and long term goals, are you looking for big time monthly cash flow, long term appreciation of the value of the properties, maybe a combination of the two?

So sites like Zillow and Trulia and others that combine listings will and should outperform MAAR and similar sites.

Honestly I like the look, but the functionality is missing for me. 

I think combining a real estate license and MLS access with my analytical skills and growing knowledge of specific neighborhoods would be a great way to market myself.