Much slower than utilizing a HELOC, but I’m not trying to build an empire and just have a passive income source that eventually allows me to spend my time where I find meaningful.

Let me know if you have any questions...there are so many nuances when it comes to lending guidelines, getting the best terms, and setting yourself up in the best position possible for properties 2,3,4 and beyond as you build your empire. 

>Inland Empire and San Diego have minimal growth due to increased supply.The upcoming vote could reshape the rental landscape significantly, influencing affordability and availability across California’s rental markets.

If you actually did this, you'd have an obvious answer for your question about financing down payments.This is your post from 9 months ago:My goal is I want to buy 200 properties in 5 years(separate business plan) and build even bigger after until I have the biggest real estate empire.

Barbara Corcoran: Built a real estate empire from a modest start and became a prominent figure in the industry.--- Tactic 1: Branding and PR: Corcoran used media and public relations to build her brand and attract high-end clientele.--- Tactic 2: Niche Specialization: She focused on the New York market, becoming an expert in her area.--- Tactic 3: Empowering Agents: Corcoran built a strong team, providing them with the tools and support needed to excel, which in turn grew her business.These investors show that success in real estate often comes from a mix of strategic purchasing, market specialization, strong branding, and building robust teams. 

I self manage our rentals (we had been using Empire but I want happy with their services) and use Cozy to run background/credit along with all the paperwork.

Your empire won't build itself.

I now want to diversify, I have around $1m in S&P 500, and want to use the other $1.5 for real estate investing.My end goal is to build a Real Estate Empire and I feel like I am in a very good situation to do so,I love working and I am not looking for "passive income".What would you pros do in my situation?

By taking the equity from one property and reinvesting it into another, you can continue building your real estate empire without constantly injecting fresh capital.Why BRRR Works for Real Estate InvestorsThe BRRR strategy allows investors to grow their portfolios faster because it leverages the property’s equity to fund future deals.

If you read through it you get a lot of empirical information on RUBS.