Neither scenario is a suitable environment for investment. 

But using that money as a downpayment is not "correct".For starters, it's almost guaranteed in this environment that the interest rate on your HELOC is higher than your CoC returns on the properties you'd buy.That doesn't make sense.Beyond that, how will you pay off the $400k HELOC balance?

This would eliminate the need to find an Attorney willing to close something they are not comfortable with.

Does HELOC and other home equity financing methods work in the current high interest rate environment?

Given the rate environment I'm not sure that a HELOC makes much sense or if you'll get something significant enough to buy something closer to Boston.

Hey Michael - we definitely have a lot of consensus here - based on the facts in Texas, I would agree with you that it sounds like the burdens and benefits of ownership (or at least a significant amount of them) are transferred as of the auction date, and based on what you stated, I would also feel comfortable taking the same position for a TX property - it would certainly not contradict the revenue ruling given the related restrictions on the property and taking possession are an entirely different fact pattern, making the ruling moot in your scenario.Which I think highlights even more one of my closing points (and your point as well on Jurisdictions) - this likely changes wildly by jurisdiction. 

In this environment how are people doing the deals?

Which made me feel comfortable moving forward.

They said it is a new loan product being offered in todays environment.

This is very desirable since you can comfortably live with a girlfriend/dog/whatever, and not lose comfort.Buying a SFH, building rooms, renting every room and sharing your room will almost certainly cashflow in most markets (outside of VHCOL cities).