as mentioned the most common way is you do a cash out refinance to buy an ex out of a property.

I was planning to do cash-out, but there are several factors coming together that is making that a less attractive option (higher interest rate, longer seasoning).

Based on comps I could get about $2,200 a month in rent. that breaks down to :-$1,100 (+) -$600 = -$1,700 in mortgage/HEL$2,200 -$1,700 =$500.00 profitOr the Home Equity Agreement I get the $62k cash with no payment.

Are you cash flowing the property?

And markets like Tulsa, Memphis, Nashville, Indianapolis and the like are your best bet for cash flow on holds. 

Here's the deal:Purchase Price (PP): $95kRenovation Budget (via HML): $60kTotal All-In Cost: $155kARV (After Repair Value): Around $200kRefinance (via DSCR Loan): 7% interest, 30-year fixedRefinance Details: After the refi, I will pay back the Hard Money Loan (HML) at 11.95% with 3 points:HML: $60,000Interest/fees: $3,585Other costs: $1,800Total to pay back HML: $65,385After the refi, I will have $84,615 left in cash.Cash Flow & Expenses:Expected Rent Income: $1,700/monthProperty Management (PM): $126/monthInsurance: $100/monthTaxes: $126/monthMortgage: $1,043.75/monthTotal Expenses: $1,395.75/monthSo my monthly cash flow is about:$1,700 - $1,395.75 = $304.25/month in cash flow.Return on Investment:Cash Invested After Refi: About $18,385 (after paying off HML and closing costs).Annual Cash Flow: $304.25 * 12 = $3,651Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC): $3,651 / $18,385 = 19.8%I didn’t account for maintenance costs since it’s a full gut rehab, and everything is brand new.

I am considering buying the property in cash then hiring Servpro to fix the cigarette damage.

The biggest hurdle you'll have to overcome is accepting breakeven or negative cash flow at the start. 

With the extra cash flow, you could strive to acquire additional income-producing properties over time.

Leveraging your equity through a HELOC or cash-out refinance can be a smart move, but it depends on your risk tolerance and goals.