Real Estate tax strategy

[Jason Pham]

I am currently living in a home (home#1) and now i buying new home (Home#2) and old home#1 is convert to rental. home#1 is pay off.  my goal is to delay or reduce tax

1) can i take home equity loan out of home#1 and use the interest as expense on home#1 so i can reduce cash flow?

2) can i use the loan on home#1 as down payment for home#2 or it have to be use to invest on another rental home?

3) can i use home# as rental home and rent to myself?