From listening to podcasts and reading some material I've decided that when I do have the funds and credit necessary, I will buy a property with a 203k loan, fix it up, and use the equity to help fund buying other properties. 

Not a big national bank such as Chase, B of A, Wells Fargo, etc.Using a HELOC to fund the down payment may mess up your debt to income.

Will re doing the  properties siding and some exterior upgrades be sufficient enough to force the appreciation or is the only way to increase the appreciation is to rehab  each unit?

Does anyone have experience with Close Now LLC (broker) or W Financial (seems to be the funding arm)?

From the money side of thing, it makes a lot of sense since its cheap, highly customizable, modern looking and low maintenance cost due to steel frame structures.Once we are done with the first big project this year, the following one will be simple and we plan to do more with right amount of funding. 

However, unless you are sitting on a ton of capital, I would use flipping to fund your long-term hold acquisitions. 

@Eric Adobo are they unable to get funding approval to buy it right out?

Contact Eastern Funding. 

I’d like to get started with investing in property, but I’m at a point where I don’t know which route to take regarding whether to sell my house (and move back with parents), refinance, or take out a home equity loan to fund my real estate investment plans.A little side note, I purchased this property two years ago.

Or at the very least it constrains proceeds due to debt service coverage limitations.That said, if you have the funds to pay cash you also have the funds to make a larger down payment.