I'm more concerned about appreciation and equity so I'm willing to trade the cash flow for it, but I don't want to be in a situation where I'm barely breaking even and the stress that comes with it.Looking for ideas how I can tap into that equity to grow my portfolio but still getting some kind of cash flow to be able to make the monthly payments1.

You have received some great recommendations and if you are yet to decide on an Investor friendly to work with, you can send me a DM and see if we are a good fit.I do provide free mentorship and a lot of free resources and connections to anyone I work with especially beginners like you. 

I would recommend getting a free cost/benefit analysis to see if you specifically could benefit from the study.Real Estate Professional Status

After a few candid conversations, they realized they could negotiate slightly higher rents by offering small improvments..things like better loading dock access or upgrading the security features..turning a so-so cash flow into something much healthier.When you break down your family friend’s situation, it might help to consider these angles:Selling and redeploying capitla could open up opportunities in markets where cash flow is a bit juicier.

Right now, I’m focused on breaking into multifamily properties and building connections with investors who share the same drive.

It's free.'

It includes HVAC filter and a few 'free' things (like one free lock out or something like that).

If you own (2) properties free and clear you could simply do a cash out refinance. 

You definitely wont get an app like that for free, so how much would you be willing to pay to a company to submit it for you, vs spending 10 minutes once a month to submit taxes? 

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).