Without details of knowing how much equity you have in the house its hard to say for sure whether you can pull anything out or if it will even be worth it.You should be able to do an investment home refinance though at the lowest at 70% LTV, maybe a bit higher.

Hello BP family, I’m looking to buy a duplex using seller financing for the duration of the rehab which I would pay for in cash, then refinance to pay off seller.

They are valued based on comps and not NOI / Cap Rate, so you lose the ability to drive appreciation, and if you cannot find good comps, they can be hard to refinance or sell.

Should I use a HELOC...OR...a cash-out refinance against my primary residence for the down payment of my first investment property?

I have a family member whose willing to invest with me to purchase my first apartment building, they want monthly payments for 2-3 years until I'm able to refinance to property and pay them back in full.

I did this primarily by using cash out refinances and HELOCs.

After speaking with a representative today, looks like the Streamline refinance will bring my interest rate to 2.75% fixed, 30 year.

I have been calling lenders to see if I can do a VA cash-out refinance, and it seems that because the family short-term rental property cannot prove that it is being serviced (no year lease in place) that debt is too much for me to try to get a cash-out refinance. 

Or a buyout refinance between the construction phase and the permanent financing phase. 

If you have hard cash to purchase them, there is really no limit on the acquisition, it will be more on the refinance if you decide to keep them instead of selling them in the end.