Rich Dad is a good place to start but honestly Kyosaki is flat wrong on investing and stock market, so I cannot get behind his beliefs fully.

I have a duplex with a flat roof - Tar and gravel - I'm looking to have it replaced before next winter and have had one contractor say that he could drill insulation board right on top of the existing roof and cover that with the EPDM membrane. 

Because you're in Van Nuys...I assume you are on flat lot, so I would guess you also wouldnt have any further requirements. 

However, you can likely find a 2-flat (all in) that will cash flow within that budget in an area speculated to appreciate.

Then put excess capital into other investments.

For example, I send a flat $150 from every LLC up to Wyoming once a month.

Principal is a flat 25%, interest is whatever their highest marginal rate is.

Again planned on a flat charge to go towards new future cabinets.

The lender would only consider equity in excess of the 25% for cross collateralization--- it worked out that we had sufficient equity such that we ended up bringing less than 1% of the purhase price of the new props to the table.

I think that's excessive, but if that makes you feel protected, that's the only way to guarantee the document is legal.