Pay it off with a commercial DSCR refinance loan once you've gotten the rents up to an amount that will allow you to cash out on your HELOC.I like using my HELOC but only in short-term scenarios because it's a floating rate and I can't control when or how the bank will make adjustments to the payback variables. 

This is paired with automated prorating of rent and electronic payment setup. 

We bought a townhome in October of 2022, intending to live in it for 3 - 5 years, then rent it out.

if you just read headlines you'd think everyone in the US rented. 

I can lend in all 50 states and would be happy to help you figure out some options.As it has now been 2 years since the property has been rented, I do claim the income on my taxes. 

Hi Aqsa,I'm bias but then again, I've owned real estate all over and haven't found a better market for sub $100,000 than Toledo.Low entry price pointHigh cashflowEmployed tenants that pay rent onlineDecent areas with well kept homesNot much appreciation so IMO it's a strict cashflow play.If you find and buy off-market you can snag some great deals for sub $60,000 purchase and rehab.Quality of workmanship is the downside and so is motivation of other folks needed to make investing from out of state work.So beware.These are the downsides bit like with any market, you will always have pro's and con's.All the best 👍

If the new tenants want to move stuff in early, they need to pay rent and you need to talk to the old tenants. 

It’s not as hard as you think and if this Amtrak attracts more people to Scranton, not only will they not want to live in an old run down house but they’ll likely have the money to rent or buy something newer.

Not all lenders can do that, but...for instance...I'm actually a District Manager with Build 2 Rent here in Florida and we have off-market investment properties (both occupied and vacant) that you can purchase with our in-house lenders and interest rates in the low 4's because of the incentives we currently have available. 

Many things a rent-ready rehab doesn't include.