It rents for $3000 every month, and with an appraised value of $375,000 we refinanced using a 1st Lien Position HELOC strategy to pay down the balance MUCH faster while have equity accessible to take advantage of opportunities.

Anyone out there faster or is this common?

With your life's experiences and financial capability you can go much faster than someone much younger.

I've found this to be much more straight forward, less capital needed over-all, and a faster turnaround.

Vacation rentals can be cash cows allowing you to grow faster but one thing to consider is STR income won’t be considered income for 2 years for the purpose of refi (this is starting to loosen but talk with your lender) If you are planning to live in the duplex you will probably get a great rate and it’s easier to refi but won’t be cash flowing as much In my experience long term rentals appreciate more but cash flow less.

It may help is sell faster, but won't affect the price much (if at all). 

Dawn Dish Soap does too.Nothing ruins a budding landlord dream faster than cleaning up after nasty tenants.

I’m also not saying you can’t give more weight to a tenant that has come and seen the property but I wouldn’t say no if they passed background and had a good story.

Money is a commodity and any lender licensed to do business in the state where the property is located can offer DSCR loans but some lenders can process them faster and some are lower in cost than others.  

But you're right, given the location, families with children are not necessarily my target audience and so schools should not be weighted as strongly in my consideration.