In addition, I don't personally communicate with tenants as we have various levels of employees between me and the tenant base so odds are good that the leasing agent who is dealing directly with the tenants who are looking to move into a particular property isn't even aware of who the individual owner of each unit they are marketing even is.

I have funded i bet no less than 200 deals in the last 10 year that were from Aussies selling their home that is now a full reno.. many of them in their superannuation funds. ( US version of IRA )  just the dirty little secrets most wont talk about.

Your best bet would be to get with an agent who knows what areas are already zoned properly.

Utalizing a HELOC (Line of Credit) may be your best bet for your next property.

Oddly enough, he never lacked for work. 

@Joe Black Otherwise, this does seem odd. 

If you were to conduct a market analysis of similar properties purcahsed with the intent to flip, I bet most were acquired with construction financing.  

Investments are not sure bets.

another maybe odd thing i worry about is it's a bit in the country, with 4 doors right next to each other i worry the tenants could fight, drama, drug deals, noise complaints, i have no idea but it just seems a bit strange. the layout just seems very conducive to drama, 4 door out front literally spaced ten ft apart with nothing else directly around and one big parking lot out front.another concern i have is, i understand there are laws limiting how many people can be in apt. these being 1 bed 1 bath, thats room for what 1 couple, and one child at most?

If you are considering a refinance anyways, the appreciation play may be your best bet for a home you want to live in.If you are looking for more of an investment property, I would focus on Medium-Term-Rentals or Rent by the Room in a SFH (single family home).