These are two ways you could solidify your equity.

Best place to start is reading up in the forums, buying a book or two, listening to the podcast and attending your local REIA.

Those two things turn some folks off, but if the numbers work, they work. 

Hi, I am a realtor with about five really good lenders and two that have every investment loan possible. 

Based on some of the previous similar threads, it seems that having a good cross-border team is a crucial step in this game.

Includes a single family home (4 br) which was divided in two sections one of which is being rented.

Suggest you get your game plan in place first then go forward once you have the goal in sight.

Most loans are sold to those two entities.  

I don’t know if I should invest in the Jersey market and put maybe 20-50% down on something, make less cash flow and make more appreciation, or every two years or so maybe buy something fully cash (my own $) in the Midwest let’s say 5-10 units and make more cash flow with no debt as with the income I make I can just save and buy more, don’t necessarily need to leverage in some markets.

I've closed three refinances in the last two three weeks at three different lenders.  7.3%, 7.8%, 7.75%.Leverages varied a little, so did credit.