I actually predict a influx of rentals of the sell market next year, when the new landlords of the current and past couple years realize the promised cash flow is nowhere near expectations, their property taxes have increased 30-50%, and they actually have to put money in every year.

I want to increase cash while building a positive asset portfolio.

@Julian Joseph5 years is not that long and the likelihood is that with increases in your income going forward, assuming you maintain your present life style, you could realistically pay it off much sooner.

Maybe the rents are locked in for the next year or two which wouldn't allow me increase them anyway. 

I began to dig into REI more and more but became increasingly discouraged because I did not have any options to finance any deals.

I only offer my services to people I feel are going to use the info and solve problems with it, and only because its great to see others doing the right thing the right way and creating income for trades, realtors, and increasing the value in communities.

Sounds about right with the recent interest rate increase. 

I'm not familiar with the FHA rules but when I bought my house with a VA loan I got a check at closing because I increased the purchase price by the same amount that I asked for in seller closing credits.

When I sold it, paying off that loan, dropping my total debt, lowering my debt to income ratio, moving from 2 mortgages to 1, only increased my credit score by 1 point.I will NEVER under how credit scores work, but I know they affect chances of getting a mortgage and interest rates you can get.

So if the 2nd lien holder redeems, it's good for you because you have preserved your current equity position (not increased the debt via advance), removed the lien from the property, and the taxes have been paid.