I can typically get those smaller items fixed for the price of the service call or even lower and its not worth the hassle.If you are hoping to get the HVAC replaced or other appliances by them, it might work out unless it takes few more years and by then, you already spend that money on the home warranty and service call fees and they might not even cover the whole thing once it comes to replacing.They are here to make money and they will go out of their way to replace parts before replacing the entire item.

If your current HELOC lender has an introductory rate you might even be able to raise the limit of your HELOC to enter into that promotional rate and lower it even more.

If you're not getting a credit, you could probably get a lower rate. 

If you were able to get a 30 year then you would have a lower monthly payment which could give you better cash flow.

@Jon SullivanOption 1: Get another bank.Option 2: Seller lowers the price.Option 3: Buyer pays the difference in cash.Option 4: Some combination of 1-3.Option 5: Buyer walks away.

You borrow money to invest, and let the returns from the investment pay off the debt.Saying that just because the interest rate might be lower, doesn't mean you exchange the debt. 

My thought is that we can take advantage of the lower cost of living to start saving, and also be able to build a small amount of equity to be able to leverage to buy our first douplex/triplex after he has finished school.If anyone has any advice or suggestions, I'd love to hear it!

A blue chip dividend growth stock say Proctor and Gamble will have a lower PE ratio, say 15, that might be the equivalent of slow steady appreciation, but no real price appreciation. 

More equity means lower payment and higher monthly cashflow...my beer math tells me that.

Possibly justifying higher rents and lower vacancy.In the end, it may be worth pricing out a deep-energy retrofit to super insulate/air seal the property and drop your costs.Good luck and please let me know your thoughts / what you decide.