The loan to value, the 75% or 80% will depend on the max loan to value for a rate /term on the final loan program's max loan to value. 

Just make sure you know the rules for loans with a non-occupant coborrower, as depending on the relation (whether they are a blood relative or not) and the type of loan you plan to use, there can be additional requirements for LTV and DTI.

@Kay Hart, I think your approach depends on how much of an increase.

My recommendation is to choose cities in safe and economically diversified areas with above-average income and population growth.

Hi Ana, totally depends on what product you're looking for.

A HELOC can cost $250- 600 to set up depending where you go which is cheaper than a refinance... 

Justin, it totally depends on the where. 

Just depends on how much time you want to put into it. 

@Brian Taw CA is a really large place, it really depends on the market you focus on.

Depending on which state you have created an LLC and which state is your property in, you may have no privacy in your identity or may have complete privacy.