Syndications are similar to REITs but, on average, have higher risk as they are chasing lower quality assets. 

The biggest advantage would be lowering their monthly fee by having 2 properties under management with them.

Either looking into a live in fix and flip since the housing market is hit with rates being lower and houses in high demand or looking into buying a fix and then turning it into a rental after 2 years of living in and remodeling or looking into a multi family where I can live in a u it and rent the other.

Also, we’d like to get a lower interest rate on that duplex as a primary home.

(i.e. if you have made 12 months of payments, they will re-am your loan for 348 months base on the new loan amount after chunk payment is applied) This is an awesome way to lower your monthly payments without having to refinance the entire loan.

Not great - but if you can find way to make the deal better (lower purchase price, minimize rehab, increase rents, get a duplex/fourplex instead of a SFH, then the numbers start making a little more sense.

I had just always heard this is a way to lower the odds of the lender calling the note due, but not 100% foolproof.

If you want to invest in that area Lincolnton would be a better bet because of the new Hwy 16, lower taxes, better schools, and not far from the West side of Lake Norman. 

I need to start looking at properties that will qualify for the lower rates...it doesn't make sense to invest directly otherwise.

I'm learning that I may need to increase rents to a minimum of $500/door because the lower the rents the lower my net income when expenses are still about the same across high end and low end asset classes.