But now that they are at 2-3%, the firms have shifted more of their allocation to other assets, RE being among them, either directly or through Asset Back Securities, because most insurance companies make all their profit from their float, so they have to keep profits up to historical levels.   

When it comes to actually securing a contract on a home that appears to meet your criteria, here are some tips (outside of simply raising the price):1.

I can't help but worry that I need to make a move and secure equity in my house before its too late.That brings me to the next question, where do I go from here?

Good paying, long term tenants are worth their weight in gold! 

I got a got a business line of credit to my LLC secured with the equity in my rental.

Other option is to "trust" and wait, which would mean that I am taking a risk and would have to tap into security deposit if things go ugly. 2.

How would you proceed to secure this deal?

I haven't secured any loans from anyone before so I'm not sure if I should try to get the lower rate on the majority of the price and hard money on the down payment?

There are also services that will keep your collateral files secure for a fee, so that may also be a good option. 

A Nice SFH house for yourself is a dead weight if your starting to scale and just the two of you.