Then use the HELOC, you may need to take it off the market awhile but your banker may go ahead and make one.A loan from life insurance is nothing more than borrowing the cash value and benefits, from a mutual company additional paid up insurance, from a stock company any stock value accrued, if any.

REI began as a curiosity, is currently a passion (well, the research is) and I hope to make it a career one day.

Just out of curiosity, what would you pay for this?

(Don't remember which one, but my curiosity was triggered by Buffett's investment in ConocoPhillips.)

There is never a problem with curiosity.

As you said, multiple months of no rent with expenses still accruing, to only get a house that is damaged in return isn't a great scenario.

Just out of curiosity, what does your broker say?

I have been in RE four years. I have done moderately well. I have been successful using only one type of RE investment strategy. I do residential and small commercial multi-family value add investments. My strategy is...

Out of curiosity, what's your "...plan of attack"?  

No one has lived in that house in all these years, but someone has been tending it.Several years after buying my house, my curiosity got to me and I checked the other house on the taxpayer database.