It’s important to ensure you’re comfortable with these risks and consult a financial advisor.If you choose to use a HELOC, consider traditional financing or private loans as alternatives if you prefer not to risk your home.As for your first rental, markets in the Midwest and Southeast offer great opportunities with turnkey properties that are tenant-ready and appreciating.

As a student without W2 income, you may need to show alternative income sources like savings, freelance work, or a job offer.

Myself I thought about 2017 was going to be kind of the end of the 10 year cycle and I actually put a presentation together called the Pivot looking at alternative ways to invest in RE. 

If, through the process of renovating the property, the market shifts, do you have an alternate plan for the property, whether it be to live in it until the market improves, or convert it to a rental property, etc. 

Thanks for your time and help,Melissa   I’m going to provide some alternative advice.  

Thanks,GeneOne can move old IRAs into a self-directed IRA (Equity Trust, Inspira/Quest, Etc.) and then use the funds to invest in or buy and hold real estate (also other alternative investments). 

Alternative Lenders – Look for private lenders or debt funds that focus on asset-based lending rather than borrower experience.

Alternatively, your in-laws could partially gift the property by using the annual gift tax exclusion ($34K per couple annually), lowering the sale price and their taxable gain.

I feel like if you dont want to spend too much time figuring out the flow then it's a good alternative.

I would love to hear from other more experienced in the field about alternative ways to financing that I should consider besides the HELOC, maybe also hear from investors on how the process of bringing investors onboard works.