I did run the numbers and it seems I'd be accruing more debt with higher mortgage than currently.

Quote from @Alex Messner: Hello,My wife and I are looking into buying our first home with hopes to eventually accrue multiple properties for renting. 

Foreclosure sale price + accrued costs mean sale price on satisfies loan.  

I feel I could definitely meet both of those on my own, as my husband works full-time , and I will be the only person besides the hourly employees stated above that would be accruing hours.

Vs the property is $250k PLUS the paydown equity accrued. 

It's called a payoff statementif it's a big lender you will not buy the loan as it will take forever, you are better just paying it off. you then can foreclose based on the total balance owed to you which is both loans and any accrued interest. regarding fixing property or selling as is, that really depends and needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis 

I am curious is the total equity $100k, or is that the accrued equity? 

A 100K balance accrues interest 100X faster than a 1K balance. 

The interest that it does accrue is money you don't lose, but rather it does go back into your investments. 

The benefit of paying the following year is the interest income accrued.