There is a big difference between the 2.

If you feel ambitious, you could try a BRRR strategy adding additional equity to the subject home and then taking equity out of it to pay off either the HELOC or if you decided to the refinance the primary residence. 

Income taxes- if needed can you use your 2 year primary residence deduction if a taxable event occurs.13.  1031-  if any part of the insurance claim is a taxable event is there some way to do a 1031 with lenient time frame adjustments?  

You should have a good idea of every expense you have in your primary home, then add the STR specific:  (These are rough estimate numbers, depending on various factors)STR insurance - a special insurance that covers both the property and your liability, could be $2~4k in areas without natural disasters, could be more than $10k in some other areas.cleaning fee - approx. $50 per bedroom, so a 4-bedroom house will cost you about $150~200consumables - bathroom supplies, kitchen supplies, beverage supplies: $20~30 per week, depending on how much you providewear and tear - towels, linen, kitchen utensils, some furniture: $1000~2000 per yearRepairs/replacement for things that guests break or steal:  $1000~2000 per yearAlso, if your personal use is less than 14 days a year, the entire property's expense is deductible against STR income, but if you use more than 14 days, then you will have to calculate the proportion of how many days it's rented out vs how many days you or your family uses. 

I have found that I get more appreciation on the single family house because I can sell it to an investor or as a primary residence.

However, are you planning to do a 1031 exchange, or is this a primary residence? 

The tenants are currently in court with a title dispute so the house would have to be paid for cash only.I would like to convert it to a primary residence and turn the garden level into a separate two bedroom apartment for use as an in law suite.

most realtors deal with primary / retail buyers and sellers and they too aren't going to just walk properties for you. 

Unless you are putting 20% down there is not much difference between 5%, 10% or 15% in rates.

Quote from @Brendan Jones: For the homes, and or properties that you will use as a primary or a rental property one big thing I look for is infrastructure in the area, extrinsic value (I.e. hospitals in the area, schools, and job market), and the last thing is creature comforts for people (I.e. is a store to get groceries 1 hour away or 2 minutes away).