If you are looking to tap into equity of an existing rental property, your best bet is either cash out refi using DSCR loan or 2nd equity loan.

Paying off all the mortgages is a slower way, it's also safer.

If you're at a loss and paying off the shortage still puts you at a loss I think your best bet is selling, or seeing how you can get more income from current rents by making it mid term/seasonal or an air bnb. 

If I have a buyer client who has contractually agreed to whatever fee we discussed, and they are interested in an off market property, you bet I will attempt to save my client money by negotiating all or some of my compensation from the seller. 

The numbers on the deal are below:-$6100 PITI (5% down owner occupied)-$2600-$2800 monthly rent per unit-Off market deal near Richardson High School-Both units fully renovatedI would essentially be betting on the long term appreciation of the DFW real estate market as well as long term rent growth.

City websites are a great bet.

Your best bet is to find a commercial broker and form a referral relationship with him. 

BTW I would bet the tenant is lying.

I think the best bet is to obtain the rental license as well as the commercial activity license that is necessary to apply for the rental.  

We recently had a rental property where the unit needed re-painted and the carpets needed professionally cleaned multiple times to even get the smell out; which your best bet at that point may just to be to replace any carpeting you may have in the unit.