Take advantage of the lower downpayment programs early on and once you are tapped out of conventional loans, I would consider alternative financing. 

I would need to know more specs on the house but with material shortages It's difficult to say how much to budget. 80K-120K for full gut perhaps but unsure with lumber beings so expensive and shortages.I would plan 9 months of vacancy between the pain you will endure pulling permits & having your contractors show up everyday to complete the work & then final inspections to get a CO. 

The alternative is to set up a self-directed IRA, or better, a truly self-directed Solo 401k plan, invest in alternative assets, and then do the conversion.

Spend more than half of your total working hours in an RE business in which you materially participate.2.

However, I do not know who this could be beyond a property manager which would not work in my case since I am looking to self manage for both tax (material participation in STR loophole) and profitability reasons. 

Alternatively, you're a 5 minute drive to the resort.

The pay stubs can be hard copies or digital PDFs generated directly by your employer and sent via email; we cannot accept screen captures to verify income.Once your completed application materials have been received and it appears that you would meet our qualifying criteria, we would send you a link to perform a credit/criminal background check (this minor expense would be yours), and if those results come back acceptable, we would offer to proceed.

Materialism is his love language.

To navigate this, consider options like keeping your current home as your primary residence while house hacking a multi-unit property, using the HELOC funds strategically before moving, or exploring alternatives like a bridge loan or cash-out refinance.

We have a clause in our lease that plumbing clogs not caused by mechanical/material defects in the plumbing will be charged to the tenant, and if your lease doesn't have similar I would recommend such a clause.