Investment Info:Single-family residence fix & flip investment.

We are looking into getting a fixer upper and plan to rent out our original residence ( Zillow says we can get $2700 median rent in our area ) while moving and fixing up the new house.

Investment Info:Single-family residence fix & flip investment.

Being a NYC resident (originally from Long Island), the price of entry in the area is on the higher end, so I've been considering some options in the NY Capitol region, as well as NJ and CT.

@Kyle Carter, The strategy you're looking at would be what is called a "consolidation exchange". followed by a conversion to your primary residence. 

I've got about $525K in equity in the property, but lenders have told me that I cannot get a HELOC to access that equity for additional purchases because the duplex was financed as an investment - they have said TX law dictates that HELOC can only be used on primary residences.

It normally doesn't cost you any money to open and to be able to access that large amount of equity to buy or stabalize your current portfolio allows you so much more opportunity costs.For instance, I took a $200K LOC out on my primary residence when I first started in real estate.

I would not be living in any of the units as I already have primary residence in town.

Investment Info:Single-family residence buy & hold investment.

Texas added more new residents than any other state over the past year and now has a population of over 31 million people.According to estimates released Dec. 19 by the U.S.