The more money you have outstanding, the more negatively it impacts your credit, BUT the more consistently you pay your bills, the better your credit gets.

That gives us an opportunity to meet them and do what @John Underwood said and ask if they have any outstanding maintenance issues or concerns. 

If the interest rates were the same, paying the same total amount each month, either loan would be paid off at the exact same time.....interest charged each month is purely about the total outstanding principal, at that time.

On a general thought, start by becoming an outstanding finder of deals.

If you go the 'bulk reo' route, you can count on a bundle of nationwide houses with major problems or little-to-no value, packaged around $1M+. 

PWC ranks Raleigh-Durham #7 nationwide for real estate development.

PWC ranks Raleigh-Durham #2 nationwide for single-family real estate investments.

But with that 156 mail to the owner, even with an outstanding 10% return rate you will only have to filter through 15 potential sellers.

These guys are outstanding storytellers and have some of the best marketing that I have ever seen. 

I am looking to partner with wholesalers nationwide & Newbies to be a apprentice of mine.