Since I'm technically borrowing 100% of the purchase price by taking the down payment from the HELOC (rather than the 75% loan against the subject property) I guess I could indicate 0% downpayment and create some sort of blended rate that represents the new 1st mortgage against the rental property and HELOC payment.

SFR probably has a larger market than does a duplex, and so it's value might hold up better. 

., but I can't see inside the place, what it looks like, what the renovation quality is like, etc.I'm a bit afraid of just committing to a purchase without seeing it myself, and from what I understand many of these turnkey units sell immediately after being listed, so timing is sort of important.Initially, I thought I'd ask my family who lives in the area to go check the places out for me, then make a purchasing decision, do inspections, etc.

Paying the rental off now would probably make qualifying for a bit larger loan possible because you would have more income and cash flow.

I suggest having the practice provide you a paycheck so you can have proof of income, if you aren't already doing this.There's nothing wrong with getting a 7% return... probably through some sort of index fund/mutual fund combination... and then taking that money in a year or a couple years and starting the real estate journey then. 

Wholesaling appealed to me because I want to start small and build my way up to larger projects. 

One has much more capital to put in for a down payment than myself and the other friend, and he is not opposed to utilizing his greater capital to get us into a larger property. 

It's really sort of six-in-one, half-dozen in the other, but they'd have to be willing to take unequal repayments, growing over the five years.

Or you can get a larger oil tank .    

Sort of stumbled into this first deal but hope to do better on next one