We've opted to start our focus 'in our backyard' here in Lake County, though may (likely will) branch out further with time...Non-RE investing background:  I'm an engineer by trade (with all the anal-retentive number crunching that comes with it), presently in a 'Global Strategic Planning' role at my corporation.  

I also have a very flexible private financier available, and I am wondering when to use them to pay off mortgages strategically to refinance and further boost my credit by paying off large lump sums relatively quickly and easily?

He hasn't really been reaching out to me to try and maybe re-strategize)

@Aditya Soma google dalia barosoum from strategic mortgages 

.- But by contrast if you spend 75 person-hours checking your books and present a professionally audited P&L that voluntarily discloses a temporary $150/mo decline in income due to a strategic re-positioning of your business that makes all the sense in the world... now and only now, will we take your numbers at face value, ding your income $150/mo, and throw out what your tax returns show in favor of your YTD P&L numbers.Yup, the mortgage industry is currently pretty stupid.

My question is for all the research I have done no body says anything about this being a strategic position for lien holders.

@John Leavelle i withdrew my 401K outright and am taking the penalty hit. i tried being very strategic.

Everyone is doing the exact same thing, using the same letters, postcards, or whatever but the way I'm doing things is a little more strategic.

I guess I just need to think more strategic about the whole thing.

My advice to you would be to calm down... step back.. formulate a plan with a good exit strategy, and then go and execute it.