A debt service loan would be a good option if your DTI is high, you want to close in an LLC, you're self-employed or have low income on paper, or you don't have a stable 2-year work history.

Cities with limited land for expansion have higher appreciation than those with abundant, low-cost land where new construction is preferred.

R5 is a little confusing to me - "intended for low-medium density single-family detached residential development at an urban density of 5 dwelling units per acre".

The current rents are really low because the tenants are responsible for doing any and all repairs on their buildings (which in my opinion contributes to the poor condition of the buildings). 

This is one of the best ways to scale a portfolio while keeping low out-of-pocket costs.Big Picture: The Best Move for You•If you need funds now, a HELOC in your name makes sense—but keep the rental in your personal name to avoid triggering the due-on-sale clause.

Little background behind the door: It's a MDF cheap one you buy at HD or Lowes. 

Most of those old houses with the upstairs ceiling rooms are just about 7 ft in the middle of the room but they go down to as low as 3 ft.

I will say that during that time, the HELOC interest rates were very low.  

*Look for properties where you can gain immediate equity by buying at a low price.

I have section 8 rentals in great areas and I almost forget they exist sometimes because of how long term the tenants are and how low maintenance they are.