Utilizing our collaborative financing model allowed for efficient funding, covering both the purchase price and any necessary costs associated with the resale.

Definitely check with your CPA, but I am pretty sure you cannot write off the "lost" income but you still get to write off the mortgage interest as well as utilities etc while there.

A little background to start out because I'm feeling a little scatterbrained with the directions to take next: I'm 23 and currently own 2 duplexes with gross income just shy of $4k per month, net after mortgages, taxes, utilities, repairs, etc. is about $2,125 give or take depending on the month.

With utilities in place city roads   jv deals

And the maintenance on all 4, including utilities is much less. ehh, i would have to see the numbers.

What strategies have you found to be most effective in fairly splitting utility costs among tenants?

No formula can be accurate across the board because even “cookie cutter” properties next store to each other differ as to view, location to the street, topography of the land, lot size, physical condition of the property, past remodeling, quality of the mechanical systems, sunlight, utility bills, past use, etc.  

Are there other loan products similar to the DSCR loans that can also be utilized for investment properties?

Utilize Your Equity in the Multi-Family PropertyCash Out Refinance: Since your multi-family property in CT has significant equity (around $200k), consider doing a cash-out refinance.

If you do it right e.g. always carry a reserve for repairs/vacancies, hire a GOOD property manager, keep the tenant happy by doing reasonable repairs, etc, then investing OOS is a great option to build wealth.Good luck and be sure to utilize the BP community if you need help down the road.