"biggest house in not the best area").I could really use some advice on best strategic investment decision here- if you were in my position would you sell or keep as rental? 

This successful project highlights our teamwork and ability to maximize value through strategic investments and improvements.

My recommendation is to first learn in detail how the foreclosure process works in your state then you may be able to intuit how lenders strategize selling the properties. 

That said, I do think you're in a great position to make it happen if you're strategic.

Quote from @Bruce Schussler: A lot of Podcasts and Youtuber's say to cash-out refinance to keep rents balanced with payment; (PITI) then use those funds strategically to re-invest either in more real estate or just put into a high interest bearing account or money market account...Here's some of my thoughts and comparisons;Cash-out refinance with new loan so rents balance with payment:- The cash-out refinance is 100% tax free- The funds can be put into a money-market account off-setting a portion of the interest charge of loan- The loan balance gets eventually destroyed by inflation- The liquid cash eventually gets destroyed by inflation - The interest on the new loan can be deducted from the rent income- The refinance costs are 3-4% of the total- There is less equity in the property and LLC that can be attached in case of a lawsuit- The break-even on cash-out refinance with current interest costs on the new loan is around 12 years Vs.Paid-off property with positive cash flow:- The positive rent income is 100% taxable minus only depreciation and property tax- There is more equity in the property and LLC that can be attached with a lawsuit- The break even is not until after 12 years at today's interest rates- There is a rate risk in today's inflationary environment where interest rates on bonds keep rising*It appears to me that the cash-out refi is in the best interest for a property investor; (Dave Ramsey would strongly disagree!)

If planning a refi, be strategic and do a Hard Money Fix and Flip loan and finance in your repairs.

This means there may be less competition from professional investors, especially in areas where the demand for owner-occupied homes is strong.In short, if you are just entering the real estate market and don’t yet have the capital to compete directly with investors for multifamily properties, focusing on single-family homes could be a more strategic choice.

I've got a few more properties with a similar plan in mind—refinance, extract the equity, and use that to build toward my bigger target.The goal for me this year isn't just to buy more doors, but to make a strategic leap into larger-scale projects.

However, the absence of a renewal option in the lease could indicate uncertainty or strategic flexibility.

It’s clear that this partnership was strategically kept quiet.