@Lisa Marie for the extremely in-depth thought-provoking reply with amazing analogies and explanations, I felt very inspired to do more and learn more. 

how long have you owned it and was it ever your primary residence? 

My primary goal is cashflow so looking for an asset that works and is also in a growing area.

What these $20 - 40k “mentorship’s” sell is a SHORTCUT, but it does NOT work because the PRIMARY real estate education and knowledge MUST be there in order to be able to implement and strategy or tactic correctly, at the correct time, and under the correct conditions.  

@Nate Jenks no problem, here to help and clarify.When we speak to "cash out" loans in lending the maximum loan amount is usually 80% LTV on a primary home. 

I am an investor/agent and own 5 and it's my primary investment strategy.

Our primary objective as coaches is to help clients ask the right questions, develop the right criteria, and identify potential red flags.  

If the duplex sells for $500K and you exchange into a duplex in LA for $1 mil then you could use 50% of it as your primary residence.- Do I qualify for for a section 121 exclusion sense I lived on the property for the first 2 years of ownership?

I would have bought rental properties of any sort before I bought my primary home. 

@Samantha Springs can you rent a room out in the unit you occupy as your primary?