I have a duplex I have been renting for almost 10 years and want to use the equity in that property to use as a down payment on a storage facility.

., Purchase Price: $475,000 ($197.9/sq. ft.).Estimated Market Value: $402,000 ($168/sq. ft.).Financing Terms: 2% interest rate, with a 9-year balloon.Unit B Income: $2,049/month (Section 8 tenant through November 2025).Unit A Income Potential: Similar rent or higher; Section 8 cap for the area is $3,234/month.Monthly Loan Payment (P+I): $1,386.Cash Flow Breakdown (if both units are rented at $2,049/month):Gross Rent: $4,098/month.Vacancy (10%): $410/month.Operating Expenses (37.3%): $1,376/month.Net Cash Flow: $943/month.Key QuestionsWould you be comfortable paying an 18% premium for financing at 2%, especially in a market where current mortgage rates are closer to 7%?

Set clear goals, save for a down payment, and practice analyzing deals to build your confidence.

The Heloc can also pose as a debt obstacle since its an open end mortgage a.k.a credit card.a mortgage is also set up over 30 years so it offers a lower rate and payment. 

It’s a great way to grow faster.HELOC or Equity Tapping: If you have equity in another property, using a HELOC or cash-out refinance could help cover the down payment without affecting your DTI as much.Seller Financing or Creative Deals: Look for sellers willing to finance directly, which bypasses traditional mortgage qualification hurdles.Scaling quickly often involves combining strategies—play around with what works best for your goals.

@Madison SloanTo start house hacking, focus on saving for your down payment, researching target markets like Salt Lake City or North Idaho, and building a strong team of professionals, including an agent and lender.

One thing I am curious of - typically many of the hard money lenders will charge a 1-3 year pre-payment penalty in these types of scenarios unless your client paid points to not have that pre-payment penalty.

You can sometimes purchase a property with zero down or a minimal down payment but a seller financing deal will not hold a note for 30 years as a bank would.

I took no money from the cash flow (when there was any) and I never made a late payment to the bank.This fall, nearly 12 years after the bank gave me that house, and over 15 years after I knocked on that door - after evictions, vacancies, insurance claims, and never taking a dime out of it - I sold that house and placed all of the proceeds in a 1031 exchange.

How long have you owned these, and how much is rent vs the payment?