So pretty good equity position within a year plus cash flowing well based on a $325k purchase price.

The 1031 positions the investor into a property that the REIT absorbs as @Joe Sera said in the 721 conversion. 

The PM company is starting to kick a little better lately but we had a rough 2024.Always remember that every positive and negative experience when taken well is an opportunity to grow as a person and to learn something valuable. 

Quote from @Anthony Maffei: I purchased a two-family property in 2017 and now have around $500K in positive equity.

You have used home equity lines of credit to purchase investment rentals and want to know the best way to pay down the HELOCs.Between the two properties you bought, after expenses, you have $250 a month positive cashflow to use.What I like to do is pay down some principal every month with my positive cashflow.I use my extra active income from real estate commissions helping other investors to pay down the principal even more which just frees up that credit for me to use again.I know I can refinance the HELOC debt before it changes to principal and interest as it is just interest only payments as yours are.One difference is the cashflow, I have greater positive cashflow and could make the principal and interest payment in the future with the extra cashflow I already enjoy.I always get HELOCs on my income properties as well after purchasing them to pull out as much of my downpayment as possible.

Stay positive and expect problems.

The strategic location view is1) It is the USA of the middle east2) Very close and safe travel destinations for Europeans and Asians 3) Direct flights to every big city in the world London, Sydney, SF, LA, you name it4) Safe haven for lot of Internationally floating money 5) Good investments in tech, healthcare, infra and education. 

If one tenant moves out, the property remains cash-flow positive. 

Some lenders offer creative solutions, like a cross-collateralized loan, where they use your existing equity as security without refinancing the duplex.Another idea is partnering with private lenders or exploring a second-position mortgage, depending on your lender's terms.

People in the group are great, positive, and supporting.