As soon as the back door was installed, the boys quickly figured out how to unlock it and started to escape and run off.

I rent my basement And I did signed a year contract but my tenant keeps bringing people over to spend more than one night, leaves garages open, leave front door unlocked when she leaves the house. can I break a lease without getting a lawsuit ?

The smart lock allows me to assign codes for different tenants, remove codes when they leave, lock and unlock doors for repair people all without having to be there. 

Someone has been leaving doors unlocked and open, which is not cool since there is storage down there.

IRS requires you to track and report your properties separately so that gain/loss and locked/unlocked passive losses can be accurately captured. 

It unlocks capital. 

You can unlock those capital gains tax free with no stress, worry, or headaches associated with owning a rental property. 

The constant issue I have is unlocking & accessing this equity, preferably through an equity line of credit.

Is the door unlocked in the building and people just get keys and see it?

That said you are right - if real estate really was a magic unlock for 20% returns guaranteed Wall St would be all over it (well the already are but that's another story...).