If you cash out equity in a property, you are "borrowing" that money from the lender.

Knowing how much you still owe will help figure out the real cost of losing that low rate.Also, when it comes to borrowing the additional $170K, it’s key to know what kind of returns you’re expecting to make on that money.

They don’t make loans hoping the borrower will fail.  

I would not buy on a land contract (maybe a piece of land but not a residence) but have owned them in the past (we bought them on secondary market).Way too much risk as the borrower - see the post I made yesterday in the note investing section where a homeowner gave someone a land contract and still sold the house to someone else.

Right now the institutional borrowers unless they are direct lending will not, and that is far and few between that are doing this.

Freddie also requires that the borrower loan guarantors demonstrate prior multifamily experience.

Hi Wendy,Coming from a Banker in most cases the Heloc is a Line of credit you only pay on the amount you use and a Heloan is the bank/lender gives you all cash.Lets say you borrow $10K as a heloc and in the first few months you take out $1500.00 your payment is only going to be based off the $1500 and not the $10K because the rest in the line of credit (LOC) not being used - Same as a credit card.

(If you don't have outdoor furniture - borrow it from some friends in trade for babysitting.)

Unless you have a massive deposit relationship with them like 1m++++ then they may do 20%That said they will finance the rehab if you’re a strong borrower and it pencils. 

In this instance what I would do is get the deed in lieu from the borrower so you ahve the property again and get a note from them but have an attorney draft it to see if you can include a confession of judgment - meaning if they do not pay then you can get a quick judgment and possibly garnish wages.I would also have them put a small down payment as part of the note and only accept a check that way if you ever did garnish you have a copy of a check so you know where they bank.unfortunately you are right they can stop paying on the note and its unsecured so its a risk but out of all the options this is your best option.