Taking a 15 year mortgage will hemorrhage your debt to income ratio and make it difficult to qualify for more home purchases in the future. 

I was determined to restore that.  

were these all BRRRRs that were purchased with cash or short term debt and then refinanced? 

zero risk, there is absolutely zero risk when you pay off existing debt :)

You will have more success finding LP partners to fill the rest of the capital stack alongside of the construction debt.

@Jerry Velezif a property is owned outright with no mortgages, debts or liens on it, then it can (potentially) be purchased on seller financing. 

Hard money lenders focus more on the property’s value rather than your personal debt to income ratio (which traditional banks use) allowing for quicker approval and funding.

With this in mind, if you intend to leverage short-term debt (hard money), it's even more vital that your underwriting is thorough and that you have the correct systems in place to tackle potential issues.

Most lenders will also look at debt coverage ratio which limits leverage at this time due to higher interest rates.

Maintenance and potential repairs will also require a long-term financial plan and setting aside a contingency fund for such expenses.The steady cash flow, appreciation over time, and tax benefits can make a meaningful difference to your wealth in the long term, especially with the principal paydown on the mortgage.However, if managing the property from a distance feels too burdensome, or if you’d prefer the certainty and flexibility that comes with having less debt (especially given the high mortgage rates), selling and using the $100,000 in equity to reduce your loan for your next home may be the smarter move.