I use Eric Kloth out of Redding and he is stuck with us for this and our future home buying needs. 

Income approach Also known as the rental income approach, this method estimates the market value by analyzing the property's anticipated future income and converting it to a present value estimate.

It means your house might be your biggest financial asset — and it could open up some exciting opportunities for your future.

So, my first caution is it would be healthy not to expect similar results on certain real property investments/deals in the current and near future cycles.That said, there are multiple considerations and clarity needed, before I would act on any investments with your equity.

I'm hopeful we can find more productive ways with less red tape in the future outside of LIHTC leveraging technology since standard construction really could use an overhaul.  

Lates on a mortgage trade can impact your ability to get loans in the future. 

Focus on education, networking, and analyzing deals carefully to ensure your first investment sets a strong foundation for future growth.Good luck!

A hybrid approach could also work—perhaps using a HELOC for reserves while saving the stock portfolio and 401k loan as backup options for future opportunities.

So, every non-government job your tenants have will vanish in the foreseeable future.

@Roy Kinzer Rent control in NJ can be a tough pill to swallow and unfortunately has caused many of my deals to fall apart quickly once buyers/future landlords realize how strict the controls can be.