Now is not the time to “test the market” with an ambitious price to “see what happens.”

That brings up another issue, you can test your subs by where they use grout vs caulk.Depending on your strategy, buy right? 

I didn't raise rents at some of my properties for many years and realized how much money I was leaving on the table.

I’m trying to get a heloc or cash out refi on a primary residence duplex.l under FHA.I have great credit but modest incomeWife has bad credit with better income therefore I don’t believe we will qualify for heloc.Our plan was to get heloc to use as a down payment on another house hack or general investment property.So far our mortgage company said they could do the cash out refi which would raise our mortgage from $800 to $1200 (current rate is 3.62) and the rate would go to 6.6To pull out hopefully 30-35k maxMy concern is if I do the cash out.

How did Zoosk and Lopez, raise $260 million from investors?

So I'm doing it now.I'm from San Diego, CA born and raised.

I still have a full-time job, but my goal is to start with 1-2 flips/year for the first couple of years, then ramp up to 5+/year.Right now, I’m focused on learning as much as possible—market analysis, deal sourcing, estimating rehab costs, and raising capital.

Do yourself and your investors a favor--don't raise money from people and buy an apartment building right now. 

Raise your rents annually.  

@Frank Alfano agency debt is very competitive (75-80 ltv, non-recourse, fixed-rate etc); you can syndicate and raise the equity portion needed from friends and family, provided you can market and lead the project.