@Kris TohovitisI wouldn't recommend using your cash to pay off the mortgage on your primary residence since you can likely get a better return on that money by investing it.What's your buying criteria for the multi-family property?

Quote from @Marc Shin: I saw a video by Miles Golden and he said you change transfer your primary mortgage to a HELOC, and then you can pay all your bills out of the HELOC and pay off your mortgage in 3-12 years. 

I think the real estate professional strategy works if it is your primary source of income.   

As a result, competing against seasoned investors in the multifamily space can be challenging, especially for newcomers or those with less capital to deploy.On the other hand, single-family homes (SFH) are typically the go-to choice for primary homebuyers, who are not always as cash-rich as investors but can still secure financing through conventional loans.

I’ve read you can put your primary assets in a trust which can help some.

If paying off their primary home is the priority and the tax savings from the 1031 don’t outweigh the boot and logistical constraints, selling outright may be simpler.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Without predictability on insurability and risk of the primary collateral being destroyed (which at this point theoretically could happen anywhere) as it’s January, and would you believe in 2023 that 71K thousand square miles of northern Canada burned 5% of the entire Canadian forest with billions in damages? 

I can't buy fuel with looser scratch off's.

Additional DetailsI’m willing to invest in out-of-state properties, though I prefer areas with good property management options.My primary focus is passive income, but I’m also interested in value-add opportunities.I want to ensure these investments provide strong tax benefits and diversify my portfolio.I’d love to hear from experienced investors:What would you do in my position?

My primary focus is on properties in Miami and the surrounding areas, including Homestead, as I’m familiar with the market here.