You increase the likelihood that you continue to receive that $8,500 each month. 

As they see their money is safe and you're succeeding with your plans, they'll usually ask to increase the amount of money they loan to you.

You may also want to check the Columbus OH market - great macroeconomics with lots of job and population growth along with major companies developing here that drive strong rental demand. 

These markets often have strong population and job growth and strong rental demand.But the reality is that even in more affordable markets like Columbus, you'll need about $50k-60k household income just to qualify for a conventional investment property loan (this assumes good credit and reasonable debt).

I just bought a lovely 8 unit last April that had been horribly neglected but have turned it around and done some cosmetic renovations and increased rents.

Despite higher interest rate environment, there's reasonable probability inflation will still continue - thus increase hard asset valuation.

This decision increased our budget from $15K to $45K, but it turned out to be a wise investment.

Unfortunately, Covid decided to change my plans, and I made the decision to hold off, in hindsight it was a huge mistake and no one could have imagined that property values could have increased at such a high rate.

I've heard of people doing this, but you need to be rehabbing it enough to make it higher value so ideally you need to be purchasing something that needs some rehab so that you can increase the equity because otherwise you're not gonna have enough equity to pull out

That does not require employment or job seasoning instead it uses the rents to qualify and you can take out up to 80% LTV cash.Use the cash to put down on the next 1-2 or more properties as long as the other properties are debt servicing themselves it opens up more opportuities to buy more future assets and increase your passice income.