I have a small two bedroom duplex in a desirable part of town.

Depending how much you earn you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle.

I currently earn about $7,000 per month, working 50-55 hours a week at $34/hour.

My name is Alex and I am a new investor with a desire to start a section 8 rental company.

This creates two loan payments ($100,000 of equity and $300,000 on the new mortgage).Key NumbersHome Equity Loan Interest Rate: 6%Mortgage Interest Rate: 7%Rental Income: $3,000 per monthExpenses (management, taxes, insurance, maintenance): $800 per monthIncome and ExpensesMonthly Rental Income: $3,000Monthly Expenses: $800Monthly Mortgage Payment: $2,000ExplanationThe investor earns $3,000 in rent each month.They pay $2,000 on the investment property mortgage and $800 on other expenses.This leaves $200 profit each month or $2,400 per year.However, you have to pay $6,000 interest on the equity borrowed.This leaves you with an annual loss of $3,600.This example shows that while the rental property generates positive monthly income, the interest cost of borrowing the initial $100,000 results in an overall annual loss.

Maybe you can approach with a combination of selling the lowest performing or least desirable asset(s) and utilizing some for cash out towards reinvestment? 

Obtaining my Real Estate Salesperson license was driven by a desire to address the critical issue of affordable housing.

I will let you know that if you're looking at High St or Neil Ave, these are super desirable locations and because of that, you're not going to cash flow as a long term rental.

As you SHOULD have; 0-brownie pts earned. 

We might rent, but also could buy a home that could work as a rental and buy time to find more of a desirable area and home situation once we get our feet wet.