If $50/month is not the real win, but the $26,0000 you’ve created in equity; does that equity really exist?

So far, I have close to $100k in Equity.

Any kind of build needs to have lots of built in equity or else its not worth it.

Will a lender even be willing to wait that long for a stake in equity? 

Thomas Stanley, in Millionaire Mind, says most millionaires have only about 20% in equities of public corporations.  

They owned hotels and had about 6 million liquid and another 5 million in equity assets.

A 5k new roof doesn't necessarily add 5k in equity to a house you paid 20k for whereas in an A neighborhood your rehab leverages the value to get into a whole new class of retail buyers.

The house has $40,000 in equity (refinanced), and has positive cash flow.Real Estate Currently:Remodeling a 3000sf 4bd/2 1/2ba on 10 acres (has a 2 1/2 car garage and office as well). 

From a valuation standpoint, I plan on capturing about $65,000 in equity capture due to the discounted on the purchase and improving the cash flow.

I'm a midwest transplant and I've been here about a decade, so I have a decent lay of the land.California is great if you fit into one of 2 classes:1. 20-something and single-IOW looking to "live the cali lifestyle"2. income of 250K+ (business owner, high-earning DINKs, upper management, etc-Obama definition of "rich)If San Fran is #1 in income inequality, Orange county is #2.