I'm not sure I can copy and paste my Excel spreadsheet, so i will approximate the numbers here.Strategy:Take a Home Equity Loan (second) on our primary @ 5%.Pay off existing HELOC (variable, at 7.5% now), use remainder ($120k) to buy the land (plus 30k of our own cash).

You're likely better off attending your local REI meet-up to see if you can find an investor who has house-hacked or is currently house-hacking their primary home.

It's understandable to think a paid off property will "make more $" but it's just not true.

in the desert units are often on the roofs.. you can only hope the criminal stumbles and falls off the roof and breaks their butt and decides thats not a good play for them..

The overall LTV (including all 3 mortgages) will be key and your selling point will need to be that the 2nd mortgage ($8k) will burn off in 2.5 years (based on your surprise that it was even out there, I'd recommend that you follow up in 2.5 years and ensure that it's been satisified, so that it doesn't surprise you again in the future).Does the $8k grant vest over the 5 years? 

We cut these down to about 2 inches off the ground. 

You're literally the prey these ad predators work off of, do you not see how gullible you appear?

I would just be careful hopping back in now as interest rates and low inventory are making it very difficult if you aren't finding your own off-market options to buy.

I am working toward passive income to live off of.

I suspect these hosts are buying off bad reviews.