Refinancing is an option (typically up to 75% LTV), but unless you have an immediate need for the funds, an LoC is a better device as you only pay interest when you draw down.

Everything on the site, including the podcasts, can already be accessed from your mobile device.

I currently work for a medical device company and I would love nothing more than to be able to quit my job and work full-time as a REI. 

Hacking a "smart" lock takes a mobile device (everyone has one) and a little time on the internet.

You need to leave the sampling device in place for weeks or months then have it evaluated.

I just set up the company and  came from medical device sales while my father has been in the mortgage industry for 35 years.

people are people no matter their wealth my two partners in the 2000's could not be more dissimilar  one owned every thing out right and drove a gently used SUV type vehicle. 

I would recommend checking out the Bob Malecki podcast on BP and also the Note MBA podcast on your mobile device (apple and android).  

Those buldings also have their records online and you can search them one the same device you used to post on BP and get an answer in like 30min!

I would definitely agree with @Jay Hinrichs on becoming familiar with the smaller towns because they are very dissimilar markets from town to town.Find the ones with the good school districts relative to the surrounding towns and you'll typically find good rents and good tenant pools.The towns I target have rents for 3bdrm/2.bath, 1400 to 1500 sq ft homes running at about 1350 to 1400 and the houses are worth around 130k to 150k - which means I'm all in at about 90k to 105k or so on average.But go two towns over and you'll find rents for those same houses in the 800 to 1000 range with lower values and much more sparse tenant pool where collections would probably be more difficult.I don't want to say there's no competition down here though.