With substantial equity in your Fort Worth rental, a cash-out refinance could free up funds to purchase additional properties.

It sounds like you’ve got a solid foundation with your rental property, and I love the ambition behind your plans to build a property management and maintenance company—it’s a great way to take control of your investments while creating additional opportunities.Best of luck to you! 

Quote from @Victor Yang:In addition, is it possible for me and my wife to gift 36k worth of equity per year of the house (under the annual exclusion limit) and therefore have none of the costs go towards the lifetime gift limit?

Duplex have different zoning that may permit additional units.

In southern CA, even garage conversion ADU additions are typically costing more than the value added.  

They charge $1250 for properties under $1mm for a 1 to 1 exchange and if you have another property to move your funds into, they charge $550/additional property.

Hi,We recently (Aug 2024) bought commercial land of around 2 acres. this was part of bigger commercial lot (around 25 acres) which had AG exemption and so the taxes that they paid was around $20 each year. we received a 'AG ROLLBACK' letter from the appraisal district that starting 2025 tax year, we will be taxed at it market value resulting in additional taxes, interest and possible penalities for 3 prior years.

What zoning code could I request a zoning variance or rezoning that would allow us to have the 2 livable units on parcel, one primary residence and one additional living unit (known currently as ADU)?

The intent of getting a sales agent license is to educate myself in Real Estate and create some additional income.If your relationship is such that you need to hide your license, you’d be better off with a different working relationship.  

My wife and I have one rental unit and are trying to move toward our next property, but still are trying to learn more and find additional ways to make some side income to speed the process.