Should I refinance or sell?

[Timothy Gaus]

Hi Bigger Pockets!! I need a little advice. I relocated to Milwaukee late last year. Just before relocating, I purchased a duplex. I’ve performed renovations since owning it (hopefully) forcing appreciation. I financed the loan with hard money. Do to some delays I have now entered the second term of the hard money loan. I tried to refinance the property to a conventional mortgage, but because I carry some debt and because I am earning about 1/3 of what I was making before I relocated (which was expected), financial institutions won’t refinance the property in only my name. Side note, my credit isn’t the issue. I have a strong credit history. The issue is my debt to income. So, do I: A)locate a partner to refi and strike a deal with them and the bank, or B) sell the property and hope to get at least my money back? I would ultimately like to refi, get the money I have put into it back, and use that money decrease my overall debt to income.