@Jami Kloet , I have heard nothing but positives about Ikea cabinets. 

Pulling out your equity will increase your true cash flow on your existing properties and the additional income properties will generate positive cash flow above and beyond the debt repayment and expenses on each.

This with any repairs and an idea of what other similar duplexes have sold for should put you in a good position to put in a competitive offer.

I've had a positive experience thus far with their lending platform.

I am located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there is literally (close to) nothing that will cash flow positive right off the bat.

The banks up here typically like to have a smaller position the more expensive the property.

As I'm looking at areas outside of Portland I'm finding 2/1 condos for under $90K, immediately creating positive cash flow. 

They are now in the same lien position as the the original.

Most people who have the cash to max out their retirement funds are in a position where they would receive reasonable tax benefits for making pre-tax contributions... 

I'm in a similar position.