My mortgage increased earlier this year as my home owners insurance went up due to the company closing and my escrow didn’t have enough to make up the difference so I’m kind of pay check to pay check right now.

IF that is the case full stop - yes you are paying for something called insurance but if you have a claim the company has the right to pretty much deny coverage for having the wrong type of policy.Landlord policies are higher cost but for a reason - there is a different and increased level of risk when the house is not owner occupied.Talk with your agent and get all the details sorted out. 

With $100K in cash, you could leverage this option to make a larger down payment and keep monthly costs manageable.Maximize Rental Income:Are there ways to increase rents on your current properties?

Banks, particularly smaller banks who provide real estate loans are increasingly focused on their borrowers maintaining depository relationships.

While borrowing for a down payment is risky, increasing your savings will lower your interest rate.

Would we see increased cross-border transactions and a surge in property investment opportunities?

Corona impacts will greatly impact this surplus but it is nice that the state had a $9B surplus.CA, over the last 10 years, had the 2nd largest net population increase of all 50 states (last I looked - I believe it to still be true). 

Schools are solid, demand is high, and I think that you'll see an increase in housing prices in the future.

It wasn’t how I wanted to kick things off, but I worked with a contractor to get the bathroom fixed and functional.Once that was behind me, I focused on improving the building and maximizing income:I installed a shared washer and dryer for the tenants, a major upgrade that added convenience and increased the property’s value.I rented out the two garage parking spaces, bringing in consistent revenue.I also raised rents for the second- and third-floor tenants I inherited to be just below market-rate.

Thus, my taxes should be higher because of the income I generate.If I pay off the primary, I'll increase the amount I'm able to save monthly not having the mortgage, while also keeping the income generation lower on the rental because the mortgage remains open.Any thoughts would be appreciated!