I often read on BP about investors who turn their primary into a rental and think they're doing great by cash flowing $300/month, until you realize they have $100k+ in equity.

I have about 130k in equity in it that I'd like to tap into to help towards purchasing another property. 

It was the right thing for her to do at the time, and she weathered the storm and now has roughly $200k in equity in the home. 

Where it gets better - Every time I write a check for the 4,500 a month, I am writing myself a check in equity.

I bout a hoarder house that everyone said should be a tear down but we put $20,000 into it and it's as solid as a rock and we gained $120,000 in equity whereas a complete replacement would have cost $150,000 and not gained us a dime in equity.

The property has $250,000 conservatively in equity and is valued at over $900,000.

It is sitting in equity.

There is a reason investors want to put down the least amount as possible on a property, it's because the less you have laying dead in equity, the more you can put towards more property, but it all boils down to your debt tolerance, if paying it down helps you sleep better, then do that but if you want to make a better return and keep your equity stakes low, buy more property.

Today if we don't buy a minimum of 5 properties a month with at least 25 to 30% in equity shame on me.What seem like a nice car or a lot of money at one time today it's just okay so not sure if I really define success for someone else.

Thomas - staying vs. moving was the topic of the cost benefit analysis I did...which lead me to wanting to sell and move as soon as possible in order to start looking for a profitable buy and hold rental.If I stay in this property longer I save up more money each money and I may add a little $ in equity from principal pay down + minor appreciation into my pocket.