Any suggestions on how I move forward or what options I have?

Trying to narrow down options within the St.Pete area for Multifamily properties.

At this point the value of the house is still increasing but not at the same rate as the previous years for a number of obvious reasons (high Interest rates,  age of house, etc.) and at this point I'm not sure what my next move should be since I don't like having all that equity tied up in the property and borrowing against it (HELOC) doesn't seem like a good idea since banks seem to be charging even higher than "normal" interest rates because the house is not my primary residenceIt's been almost 2 yrs since a I moved out of the house and I know my time is running out before we'll have to pay capital gains on the property if we chose to sell it [unless I do a 1031 exchange of course] but wondering what other options I might consider.

Hi Cyndy, definitely a lot of great options in the private money space.

Considering the location near a navy base, businesses catering to military personnel like repair shops, cafes, or convenience stores may be viable options.

Or, if my better option would simply be to keep saving and learning for the time being.

This strategy allows investors to start building equity and cash flow while minimizing personal living expenses.Networking and Education: Many investors begin by attending real estate networking events, joining investment groups, or taking educational courses to learn about different investment strategies and opportunities.Creative Financing: Some investors explore creative financing options, such as seller financing, private lending, or using retirement funds for real estate investments.Turnkey Properties: Investing in turnkey properties can be a straightforward way for new investors to enter the market.

Google Sheets and Quickbooks are going to be your best option

It may be difficult or confusing at first, but if you research these options, you will find something that will fit in your long term goal category!

Depending on how your income looks, you Non-QM might also have to be an option.