Don't worry about what others are doing theyre on a different path than you because no ones story is the same. so try to ignore the noise and take those steps:) 

Looking forward to connecting with fellow investors, seasoned pros, and anyone who’s on a similar path of building wealth through real estate!

The second path is to become successful in real estate investing on your own beginning on a small scale.  

The easiest and straight forward option would be, as you said, to sell the current residence, payoff the HELOC (or most of it) and then get back to saving with your jobs and the rental cashflow.

I’d be glad to help you get started on the right path.

I wouldn't get my hopes up as he really has no obligation to, but if he sees a $5K item he can offer and forcing the legal aspect would cost $5K as well, he just might go with path of least resistance...The other aspect is you should 100% figure out exactly what the cost for you to take care of your items would be.

It is close to the downtown area but the majority of area is bigger lots and on the other side of a prominent hill that gives it a more out in the country feelFoothills is the most exclusive areas with higher price points and lots of upper end shopping and diningMarana and Oro Valley are the newer "suburban" areas of Tucson that have the laid back walking and biking paths, golf clubs, snow bird / retiree type activities that draw visitors in and then get hooked and eventually buy homesIf you haven't tried Tucson yet, there is quite the variety and with snowbirds leaving, there are plenty of current STR's ready to host you as the summer warms up. 

@Justin BradburyTo kick off your path in real estate investing, you need education, networking, setting goals, analyzing deals, and starting small.

I may have another year to be influential and I'm trying to set a financial successful path that will create wealth, residual income, suport philanthropy ideas, community help and know when she goes off and have a family of her own, she will be ok.

And it is very straightforward to file these, so I would expect it to be well within the scope of any operator sophisticated enough to pull off an owner financed deal.