This area has seen rapid growth in the last three years.  

Anywhere you see rapid and consistent year over year rent increases and a liberal-leaning City Council, you have that potential.

Why would you throw away a full 1/3 of the money you are inheriting on an asset that will rapidly depreciate in value (or even worse if you would finance or, ugh, lease it).

I'm working with JJ Panewicz with Rapid Mortgage Company and he's told me he can do a cash out refi with no seasoning period.

Different crash scenarios require different responses and I think the idea of holding larger cash positions to capitalize on a larger foreclosure market is foolish when the value of the dollar is rapidly collapsing.

Not many duplex comps in area but area is growing rapidly with renovations and new construction 2 miles away. 

Our average retail price point at this time is $135k+ I started to recognize the rapidly escalating rent prices and also being 62 wanted to paydown some of our rentals so that when I turned 64 i would own 20 SFR free and clear bringing in a net of $20,000 / month.                                           

Save your money, live well below your means, and once you have a well paying job you'll be able to rapidly save for your first down payment.

I believe I can pay it off in 3 years minimum to 5 years maximum based on my conservative trajectory income from it as an air BnB (my market is currently just beginning to grow rapidly and air BnB’s are maxing their fills).

The marketers who are supplying inventory tend to make things sound easier than they actually are and things can get rapidly frustrating for new investors.