@Dennis Knapp - Bigger Pockets has a book called "Estimating Rehab Costs" that was published in 2019 prior to pandemic.

To succeed, focus on properties in high-demand neighborhoods like Pecan Grove or Aliana, and ensure your cash flow analysis accounts for high property taxes, potential HOA restrictions, and flood insurance costs.

It is DSCR based and no personal tax returns are required to qualify.

Instead of evicting them, i was thinking is there some way that I could rent it back to him for very cheap (mainly to cover just the taxes/ insurance) ie 2k a year rather than the going rate of 2k a month for similar properties.

And you would get to indefinitely defer all tax on the gain from the sale.

You'll want to put together a personal financial statement (basically lists of all your assets and liabilities) and have your tax returns ready.

Note: Florida charges a hefty tax on rentals under 6 months. 

Also, you will have additional occupancy tax depending whether you are in the city limits or not.

He was a good guy” and his information  on buying at tax or foreclosure sales was realistic and doable. 

Most Heloc rates right now are around 7.75% to 10% so if you look at your blended rate between your fist and Heloc you would be better off doing a cash out refinance.A lot of people forget or simply do not know that if you do a cash out refinance the rate does go up but in 12 to 24 months if you do a "rate and term" refinance you can get it back down fairly close to where it was at prior.