Like most regions, the Oregon Coast (and beyond) the STR regulation environment is constantly evolving and changing.

Home prices in Philadelphia have appreciated at a consistent rate of 3-6% annually, providing a predictable environment for investors.

Just be aware of the legal environment in your state, and make sure you market your position in the contract and not the property itself.

More importantly, with the rate and lending environments of the past two years, having mortgage insight, access and resources has supported or improved the invest-ability for the majority of my real estate clients.

Having a good sanitation system, and a city that cares about having a clean environment would be a great start.Unfortunately, after contacting the city and local groups that claim to want to make the city a beautiful place do not want to help put up a public trashcan.My last resource is contacting SEPTA and asking them.

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.

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?

Neither scenario is a suitable environment for investment. 

In this environment how are people doing the deals?