Some appliances just pays to get new.

I have a confession: my only duplex, which I gave owned now for 2 years and recently moved out of from a house hack, has proven to cost me more to maintain/pay taxes/repair/fix etc to the point where my cash flow is close to zero.

If the new owner pays on the loan its not "equity skimming" from what I understand of it.

I would, If in this position, take the equity in the form of a HELOC and purchase a cash flowing asset that would not only pay for itself but pay for the cost of the money while putting cash into my bank account each month. 

I would apply the cash flow to pay down the debt and hope to have significant passive income (or equity to put into something else) in 10 years.

Especially paying MN taxes on NV tax free properties.

MattIRA can pay down 30k on the 100k and now owes 70k and has a note for 170k.

But now 50% are not paying.

@Chris ShonYes, a real estate accountant is worth what you pay them.

As I see it, the only ways that real estate pays you well in the first 3-5 years is low to no leverage or a strategy that requires more work (short term rental, mid term rental, rent by the room, etc.).