Compare that to if Hobo Bob somehow suddenly became employable and went to work making $120,000 a year as an executive for Proctor and Gamble.

Anyplace else is a gamble and having cash if it gets much worse would make you feel like you're shopping for deals at the dollar store.  

Now they are stating that my investment was give to a fraudulent borrower and they are working hard on recovering.

Conversely, casinos and other gambling businesses, agriculture enterprises, religious and charitable organizations are ineligible.Business Interruption InsuranceMost policies exclude interruption for viruses.

Just be careful taking out that HELOC, when you purchase another property the bank could in theory demand you repay the loan as you took out the proceeds fraudulently (they ask if its to purchase another property or not). 

Expecting a V-shaped recovery is gambling.

So its a gamble that a COVID related blemish on my credit history followed by 2 years of perfect payments would be an issue. 

It's a gamble really - my term for it is the CGT - the Consumer Gambling Threshold - That is in fact the force that sets the appraisal fee, not the appraiser.

It is shocking to me that NYC REI would gamble on rapid appreciation over cash flow.

I wouldn't take a gamble on any single stock right now.