The mortgage has gotten out of hand due to property tax increases, miscalculated escrow, and an increase in my interest rate from an initial buy down, increasing from $2600/mo to $3200/mo.

It's a riskier loan given you do not carry a social security, no US credit & no experience.Due to increased risk comes mitigation (Lower LTV & Higher Rates)

Ideally a HELOC is used for less then a  year project where you can refi or sell to pay back the HELOC. 5 years is a long time, things can happen and if you reduce the cashflow on both properties you'll be increasing the risk and having thinner margins.

A shopping mecca five times bigger than Lakeline Mall, a 21st century mega-factory, an ever-growing Apple campus and a somewhat secret but sizable spot occupied by Tesla.With a population increase from 2020 to 2023 of 14.5%, Williamson County is clocking more new residents than all other counties in this fast-growing region.

You can find online mortgage calculators that allow you to play around and see what happens if you do an extra payment or increase your payments.

At that time, i will have the knowledge and network to expand and build my portfolio at an increasing speed and then it will be part of my growing pains for my business.I will most likely have that CPA do my returns for the real estate and then have my Tax Accountant still do my Personal, helps with Checks and Balance and cost savings.Do you have cost segregation, or anything like that on any of your properties?  

Further, BPOs and appraisals show the properties have increased 50 to 60% in value during the last 3 years.

Each market is different but as a national average, the increasing rates have increased the inventory.

Quote from @Rich Davis: I know there have been posts regarding the ever increasing cost of insurance.  

Owner occupied loans have allowed us to purchase properties in markets with heavy appreciation, and potential for huge rent increases.