you can utilize a skip tracing company to get contact information for the owners.

Utility improvements.

I don’t have a problem paying a couple grand to remove some of the just figure it out stage of learning and utilizing expertise of people that already do it. 

Pay your utilities out of this account, and after the month has ended, you can distribute your cash flow from this account to your reserve account and your personal checking account.

I mean myself and any bank would need more details, but if you utilize that large sum as a downpayment and have a small mortgage, wouldn't you easily qualify for the debt to income?

Quote from @Fernando Martin-Gullans: Hey y’all, I’m a retail investor with 2 SFH rentals worth a combined ~$650k looking to utilize some of my stored equity to buy more out-of-state properties, but I’m not quite sure how best to proceed given that my interest rates are incredibly low (leaning me away from refinancing) and neither property is owner-occupied (which I believe prevents me from using a HELOC).

Outcome currently is a rented basement for $1,350 a month + $130 in utilities while I live in the upstairs unit.

Coos Bay - The main delay with application in this area is whether the property is on public utilities or has a septic system and private or public water source.

If it's the difference between $1800 and $2200 but you have to cover utilities too, not worth it. 

Originally posted by @Jack Grove:@Okansa Patrick Were you required to utilize a hard money lender when dealing with New Western?