If you want to be vary hands on in the process find an agent that will guide you every step.

For instance - I am looking to see if anyone has experience with installing recessed lighting into a horse hair plaster ceiling and if anyone could offer advice on the process I should take when doing so? 

Now you repeat that process until it's paid off.Disadvantages:It took a while for me to set up.Bank account is always low, lol.People can spend a lot with that amount of credit.People think I'm weird when I tell them DId you analyze what would happen if you moved all of that money you were using to pay off a heloc, not get a heloc and put that money in a treasury or other type of account that got you 6% interest or invest in an ETF or something lower risk?

I found it very unlikely that the government would not want to get their piece of the pie, especially if they had purchased a new primary home.Donyou have a Tax Code or Publication Number you can share so I can study up and understand your thought process more in depth?

If your firend wants to stay in the place AND has the funds/income to do so, they need to refinance in their name ASAP (as part of the process), not 5 yeas from now, not if they remarry, not 10years from now.   

Would like to get the process going. 

I need to do some research on what credit score I need to actually begin this process 

Commercial brokers no the process, also know the players in finding buyersIt’s a completely different ballgame.

You also need to account for the eviction process, state laws etc...

I won't just write them all here but I highly recommend contacting a qualified 1031 intermediary to walk you through the process.