I've done this on one house in order to cut costs - since then, I've added a meter with the utility company but it's a good workaround for the short term. 

We needed to build more there but the cost to build has doubled and the return is t sufficient.

The forms are online, and it costs $100 per filing. 

Would a cash-out refinance to free up equity and keep growing be a smart move, or should I focus on paying down my existing debts?

Lastly funding developer who has 3 subdivisions going in WA DC market. these are big time deals and with our funds for the soft costs  500 k to 1 mil on each project my client is going to make  sit down  but probably over 10 million net  life changing money and well we will do good too !!

This will allow you to mitigate risk on the first property but also allow you to do a cash out refi on the second, so now you have access to tax free cash that you can do with whatever you please.

$10K savings to you or higher cost to you? 

Finding a good account and bookkeeper wasn't difficult and using online registered agents was way more cost effective.

At the end of the day; you need more money to do something like this.MAX LTV on new builds is 80% LTC, Meaning if the build is $550,000 and Land is XAdd ($550,000 + x ) * .8 = LOAN AMOUNTYou would need to come in with MINIMUM 20% of the cost in addition to closing costs and reserves, $80,000 is not going to cut it for this project.

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