When you're a success, their tone will change and they'll start saying they believed in you the entire time.When Bill Gates left Harvard University to start Microsoft, I am willing to bet there were many people that told him he was crazy.

@Brittany SmithYour best bet is a local (preferably small) bank or a credit union that can do up to 80 LTV on a cash-out.

I bet those ***....sets would give me some serious cash flow."

Like everyone above, your best bet is to reach out to the bank.

If you look at the listing price of those comps I bet they were much lower.

I know you can't assume appreciation will happen every single year but these cities are pretty safe bets over the long term.

You had a methodical approach to your story, and I bet that type of thinking helps in all aspects. 

I think your best bet would be to get educated first.

Sounds like your original plan of HELOC, buy fixer-upper in cash, fix it, refinance out, and take your money and go do it again elsewhere is the best bet for your situation and timeline.

The high maintenance fees do not bother me as long as those high maintenance fees keep special assessments away(Ceasar you knowing that area I am betting you would know more about that then I would).