Hey, I'm a house hacker myself. 1 SFH, now rented out completely, and currently in a duplex that I just refinanced. 

Hi John,I am currently in the process of refinancing into a DSCR loan.

I also don't want refinancing risk, so any deals with only 3 to 5 year debt are out for me.

An original purchase loan was taken in 1998, which was refinanced in 2004, and then again in 2005.

With that capital, I’m planning to either dive into a larger multifamily project in Detroit or grab a small duplex or quad in San Francisco.To reach that $500k mark, I’m leaning on the power of cash-out refinancing.

In Europe, it is indeed possible to withdraw equity from a property through refinancing, but the conditions vary by country and lender.

That leads you down the path of refinancing your first mortgage into the construction financing or coming to the table with $$$.  

Here’s how I’d approach it:For the 9.5% Loan: Refinancing into a DSCR loan makes sense to lock in a lower fixed rate, especially if your goal is stability and better cash flow.For the 7.25% Loan: If the local bank's investment HELOC offers a competitive rate, consider it for flexibility.

After some investments in amenities (primarily hot tubs), our last 3 months have averaged 12k/m.This property is owned outright, and due to the size of the property, the small square footage of the units, and the lack of comps in the area we have found it difficult to lock down any refinancing.

Yes, most lenders will require you to live in a primary residence before moving out, refinancing, or converting into a rental.