I can always leverage that equity for future investments.

I'm a new investor in the Grand Rapids area, looking to purchase my first investment property in the very near future.

- How can I️ maintain the most favorable position for a property loan in the future but continue to utilize equity ?

Times 2 years, and you'll be $3k short of your projected expenses.Now add into the mix the increase in costs from what you are using now to estimate your future CAPEX off of, and you won't have enough money...even if all goes well.Saving for CAPEX through your cash flow is a losing option.Let's just see what happens if you do have added costs, and vacancies per year:assume 1 month vacant and one month worth of added costs per year, and you would end up saving only around $4500 per year.That would put you $6k short of your 2 year estimate, and (assuming you will only have the 3 years after that) $1500 short at the 5 year mark.The HELOC is there waiting for you when you need it.

It skews it a little bit when you are comparing apples to oranges due to future expected maintenance costs. 

It usually would cost more than a house that's on the market, but you're paying today's prices, even though you'll actually be purchasing in the future. 

It’s a duplex attached to another duplex so their may be potential to buy the other side in the future.

My future goal in to get into multi family deals.

Possibly get connected with them in the near future and bounce some ideas off on another. 

Also you can look into Us Assure (builders risk nationally )and AU Gold(Lessors Risk, Builders Risk and Vacant properties Except in NY) those two companies specialize insuring vacant/rehab homes.