Owner occupied loans have allowed us to purchase properties in markets with heavy appreciation, and potential for huge rent increases.

They had caught some trespassers.We have continued to upgrade our security systems as capabilities have increased and costs have decreased.  

I can mark it up with a fee or by increasing the rate (or both, but I never do).

That profit will increase over time and improve your return. 

Whether we agree with these items or not, the following are inflationary government policies: stimulus, student debt relief, tariffs, increased child tax credits, limited immigration, and big government deficit spending.

In this era of increased rates, obtaining properties that will produce a good return are harder to find and often involve quite a bit of work.  

From what I’ve read in The Economist, demand for “off-the-beaten-path” destinations has increased post-pandemic, as travelers seek quieter, less crowded areas.In my backyard, investors and homeowners alike are increasingly drawn to areas like Gilbert and Chandler due to their exceptional growth potential and quality of life.

And during inflationary times rental rates increase.

I'll focus on maintaining the property and optimizing rent increases to ensure consistent returns over the years.

Ideally a HELOC is used for less then a  year project where you can refi or sell to pay back the HELOC. 5 years is a long time, things can happen and if you reduce the cashflow on both properties you'll be increasing the risk and having thinner margins.