with my property portfolio skyrocketing I’d like to use some of that equity for other purposes  is Lending tree a good way to go?  I have 4 to 6 properties I’m wanting to cash our refinance. 

I think a smart move would be to find someone to partner up with in the market that you choose to go in.

Ask them if they could give you a couple names of different smaller shops that do quality work.

I like the smart agents in NM that have it in the listing agreement. 

Consumers are smart and will see your listing could have been split, and if they could have gotten them separately at less money they will get angry and give you a bad review.

The property is a newly built 1 bed, 1 bath loft apartment above a detached garage/shop in Idaho Falls, ID.

Don't meet at the house or the local coffee shop to sign a lease.  

Hence the reason why I thought hard money would be required during the seasoning period.Also I think we are heading into a correction for some areas of the country which means you could loose some of the value and eroding the 25-30% discount it took so much effort to find.For now I think the smart money is to buy with rehab in mind and only take deals that can also buffer for possible interest rate increases and some market softening.

@Gayle Eisner Before the next fire comes along you might as well just shop around for replacement properties for a 1031 exchange and see if one catches your eye.

Debt service ratio loan I can't guess as you didn't provide rents, loan amount, taxes and insurance and any HOArate shopping is near impossible when you need to disclose: middle mortgage FICO, property type, you can or can't qualify with IRS returns past 2 years, have some reserves and how many months, location, loan to value you want... and other factors.Suggestion: prepay is a huge cost, try to buy out of it upfront to be flexible in the future.Rates are a moving target they change a couple times a day, and come in increments of days (15 30 45...)