(Note, I mentioned a similar scenario in another short sale post.

Not to mention the ED is what a couple grand if that... probably won't do you much good and the house being sold is worth far more than that from a time stand point.

Geography, as you mentioned, and Taxation are another concern that should be addressed. 

Even though it has only been a few days since a RE agent colleague mentioned networking on BP, I have started learning so much that I did not know about real estate strategies pertaining to growth.

you have mentioned that it's around the same. 

As mentioned further up, 20 - 25 years amortization is common from local community banks.

All my MF properties are in SJ but I’m not too familiar with the squarer laws your mentioning.

Not to mention you probably did not include Holding Costs .  

I will likely stay with seperate loans for the reasons you mentioned as well as to be able to pay them off at accelerated rates.

As a Buyer I’ve been the beneficiary of low appraisals on bank sales where they have the original square footage listed in the appraisal because, as she mentioned, they almost always go by public records.