Took out a HELOC a couple months after and was able to save the entire time (both because we split rent, as well as the commission I saved up).House hacked and purchased a few other properties with the mindset of always taking out a HELOC 6 months before I planned on moving. 

When they ultimately sell their houses, the gain may extend beyond the federal tax law's maximum exclusion amounts on capital gains of $250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for married couples.

The way things have gone over the past couple of years, sadly it doesn't really shock me

I prefer A/B any day. 

Or, if you prefer, there're books and classes.

When you eventually do move out, take photos of everything and have a couple witnesses smell the property, so they can attest that there is no smoke odor. 

I have reached out through email a couple of times trying to make connections, but I haven't heard anything back yet.

Then find a job that I can work so we don’t start burning through our cash, and with the remaining cash we have, start to acquire a couple rental properties and maybe try to do 1-2 house flips a year.

I've helped to convince a couple tenants to get signed up for these services which helped them be able to afford a bit more in rent.   

My agent here too in CA they prefer to rent in apartment rather than even renting in single family....so that's questionable as well.