Rates may still be high, but sometimes they’re more flexible with repayment options than a mortgage refi.Family Loan Structure: Since you have an existing interest-free loan from family, you could talk to them about restructuring or even adding onto it, if they’re open to it.

For me I am free pretty much always now:)

Gaining knowledge about investor loans, like DSCR loans, can be particularly beneficial.

If you would like their contact info, feel free to reach out! 

Feel free to download it here and reach out to me with any feedback: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/biggerpockets/id6736392302

The seller has the most knowledge about any given property. 

Would a cash-out refinance to free up equity and keep growing be a smart move, or should I focus on paying down my existing debts?

I"m not sure you could find a better group in terms of knowledge and support. 

A true levelized cost of energy (what the true price would be if it were an actual free market) gets very complicated quickly and it's basically impossible to calculate accurately due to the energy industry being so heavily manipulated by incentives from the government for so long, across all forms of energy. 

This will allow you to mitigate risk on the first property but also allow you to do a cash out refi on the second, so now you have access to tax free cash that you can do with whatever you please.