Personally, If I could pull out a HELOC, I would use it to fix and flip which will typically make sense as you shouldnt be keeping the money out for that long and you can recycle it or pay it back and build off the capital that you got from. the flip.

.: In a prior post from about 2 months ago, Kerry Malarkey and Nathan Gesner mentioned a small landlord is exempt from FHA requirements requiring the acceptance of emotional support & assistance animals if one of the following is true:"Owner-occupied buildings Properties with four units or fewer that are owned and lived in by the ownerSingle-family homes Homes that are sold or rented without a broker by the owner, as long as the owner doesn't own more than three at once" (Quote from Nathan's reply))https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/1219359-pitbu...Given this, if a landlord does qualify for the exemption, what exactly does this mean? 

You don't have to do anything with the money and there's no time limits or anything.2.

Maybe they don't need the money now but in 5 years they wan to send a grand child to college.

Their ability to recover their money should you default is much lower in this position.

If its a Class C I'd go for a more affordable unit, there's no point in putting in more money than you have to. 

The only exception might be if you plan to and if your market supports short term rentals.

Use your own money?

In those days it was possible to locate and tie up a “killer” deal, and close the transaction with absolutely zero of the investors own money.

you may have to save up until you have enough money to do so - down payment, closing costs, reserves, etc.House Hacking: What Is It, How to Start, and Strategies for Successit's a more powerful way to get started.