You're going to need to put 25% cash down since you'll be needing a commercial loan.

Cash flow is the name of the game when it comes to controlling the asset so you are right it really doesn't matter whether the value goes up or down as long as you can carry it. 

If so you can look into Cash Re-Fi (not as popular these days with high rates) OR look into Home Equity Loan / Home Equity Line of Credit.

I currently own two properties, one of them is cash flowing nicely in Arizona. 

@Jorge Garcia I am a lender working mainly with investors and am happy to run numbers for you on a cash out refinance.Alternatively, you can do a HELOC.

I can definitely tell you there's still a lot of positive cash flowing and 1% rule deals and you get amazing appreciation.

@Kevin DuongShort-Stay Rentals (STR) can bring in a lot of cash but also come with high costs for when guests come and go and tough rules.

I am looking to use the real estate properties cash flow to also build my retirement within this process and I am just not sure how I will be able to build for retirement as well as build my home. 

Additionally, the costs of fixed rate seconds and HELOC's could come down from the double digits or make cash out refinances more feasible to tap equity for those with low first rate mortgage loans. 

In my experience most condos or townhomes don't cash flow well.