Brevard County further south may be a better choice but not without local knowledge. 

As you know, it is a personal choice but overall, they are doing well. 

Cash buyers are stepping back, with a 14.8% decrease, but the 57.6% surge in inventory means buyers have more choices than ever.

Cash value life insurance can serve a purpose but it is not an apples to apples comparison and if you are going to have to make a choice based on your fact pattern you would go with the retirement plan.  

Her choice. 

If you think you could achieve higher returns by reinvesting that equity elsewhere, selling might be the better choice.

Well if its from a bank you do not have any choice.

I'd suggest narrowing your choices down based on your long-term goals and what excites you most (sounds like hands on flipping).

😀But I have to get to it since the right choice here doesn't seem to be that obvious. 

There are many reasons why a cash out refinance is the better choice but there are a couple of reasons a Heloc can be used.