Refinancing 1 property is cheaper and easier than refinancing 2 properties to get at that money. 2.

Land further out; usually cheaper, but the more rural the harder to get tenants and rent up. 

(Not that they actually set mortgage rates - but they influence them.)You now know that as you look at 2/1 houses that anything priced near or above $145,000 isn’t worth pursuing in the short term… so you look for ones that are cheaper than that.  

Mainly, we can always keep up with the luxury buildings by offering the same # of bedrooms as a cheaper price.

Last option, moving to Houston where houses are cheaper but don’t seem to appreciate as well, taxes and insurance seem higher and cut into the profits.

Doing it that way would only be a tad bit cheaper than a separate tank for each home.  

A better and cheaper alternative is to put the paid-off property into a land trust.

So, selling price of $645,000 minus purchase price $415,000 minus new kitchen $50,000 is taxable about $180,000 at 28% tax is $50,000 tax to IRS.

NOT using the readily available CHEAPER alternatives in mass? 

Think about building down in homestead the numbers are even better, appreciation is better, etc. land is cheaper. you can build this for cheaper than $475k these days and add a unit. three unit. miami is on fire