The easiest and straight forward option would be, as you said, to sell the current residence, payoff the HELOC (or most of it) and then get back to saving with your jobs and the rental cashflow.

We’re debating whether to sell our first primary residence or keep it as a rental.

People responded by explaining that residential mortgage lenders are looking for US-based customers, who have their residence, income and assets in the States.How do they view foreign debt?

It is very common for residents to note of issues within a week of move-in.  

Our other rentals in completely different areas, we have a duplex in Penfield (east side suburb, our primary residence) and a duplex in the south wedge.

Regarding my down payment, I qualify for VA loans and buying a primary residence means very little down for me if I don’t have the funds.

Naturally my DTI is high, however my only debt is our primary residence mortgage I have had since 2020.

Living in one unit and renting out the other helps you scale quickly because you need a lower down payment for a primary residence. 

A house hack for a primary residence for about two years and then you could repeat this again. 

Investment Info:Single-family residence fix & flip investment.