This post was prompted by a discussion of a specific STR-related tax strategy on another thread.

Having money made thus paying for remodeling aspects is much better if I'm going to Hack this home for a labor deal with by master carpenter with 5 years left in his work career, and I can't get full market rent.  

The contractor is paid directly by the program.The programs place a tax lien on your home.  

I saw a very compelling presentation yesterday by Jason Roberts of REI Blueprint.

Many will be well educated on their housing options guided by their brands, teams and universities, and are well capitalized and qualified on a short term 3-6-12 month basis, and I actually had a client purchase a newer townhome in Tallahassee for lease to a football player at FSU..Keep in mind the top earning NIL athletes stretch across multiple men's and woman's sports. 

So, I tried to help the situation by getting a contractor to go replace the floor and remodel the bathroom so that the house is nicer for her.

Sounds like a good choice then to do the HELOC, especially if you are going to make it a rental in the future and a HELOC will be harder to come by once it's an investment property.

Others by a 2-4 unit property, live in one unit and rent out the others.  

How unreasonable.Many escrow companies still accept grant deeds by mail.

I  used a brokerage out Orange County by the name of Allure Capital the head broker is KC James.