to answer you directly - one thing that i am happy with is my mortgage paydown, which is the underwater part of the real estate iceberg. 

This would put my conventional mortgage at 15-1600 a month with unknown costs for repairs to get the 6 unit functioning.  

the second property is worth around $68k bought that property on November of last year with a loan. those properties are occupied by tenants. do you guys know if I can cash out refi each property with that amount or can use both properties at the same time with a blanket mortgage?   

Its another book on why a stressed seller benefits from an investor buying as-is taking over the often behind mortgage.- Today (as always) the most fertile group of sellers for sub to deals are the very VERY difficult deal scenario of pre-foreclosure.  

This has thrown me for a loop now because my mortgage payments have gone from just over 3k  to 4.5k due to the increase in property taxes as well as my insurance increase.

Save for a down payment, check credit, reduce debt, research real estate investing options, build a network, conduct property analysis, make the purchase, negotiate a mortgage, manage the property, consider long-term strategies, create a savings plan, and connect with experienced investors.Good luck!

Now, pair this strategy with the concept of house hacking, where you live in the property and rent out rooms to cover your mortgage expenses.

They can either download the app or use a unique url to pay online. 

The process went like this.1. marketing company in LA had a 1 hour radio show on the Big AM radio station there ever Sat. morning 9 to 10.. it was called the Radio round table and you had Mortgage brokers running it they would then talk about parts of the country were real estate was far cheaper than LA.. this drove hundreds of leads.

The current mortgage is still in my Grandmothers name and payments are up to date.