Best of luck on your continued journey, HELOCS can be a great tool to utilize untapped equity in a house.

Mgt, Landscape/Snow, tax, insurance, utility then debt service. 

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

I’ve been in this unit for almost a year now and I’m thinking about moving out and renting an apartment for $1000 a month all utilities included.

We've utilized the VA loan for our current home, and this strategy has worked well so far.

They put utilities in their name and keep them paid.

One has no mortgage, their other has a HELOC for around $20k remaining and is coming to its 10year term that was established before placing with LLC.My predicament is how/best way to pull equity out of either property for a down payment for the 3 family that is valued around $450k.

How many lots in those neighborhoods sold near that date to establish comps? 

For all methods you would want to find a market that has strong employment rates, strong income rates for the market, and is a growing or an established market. 

Also, be sure to check with the section 8 agency managing the tenants - sometimes if you pass on an additional cost like that they will no longer be eligible to live there if the rent and utilities exceed what they were approved for.