Even if you have it professionally managed but it's with in driving distance.

I was cleared of any negligence since I had recently had the tree professionally maintained and it had recently been deemed healthy by a professional.

If you don't like losing money and want to simply get yield on your hard earned capital then do it passively with a professional. 

Be sure to be calm and professional.

I believe your family would be stepping over dollars to pick up pennies in this situation.Recommend you pay a realtor to negotiate and manage the transaction professionally to closure.

Essentially your cost of money for the down payment is the after tax cost of debt...your home equity line interest rate after taxes versus the interest you are earning on your savings...I am guessing the cost of the equity line interest is more than what you are earning in the savings account...either way, I also suggest hiring a professional property manager to start with.  

Searching other related threads can also be a good source of information and you'll start to see what professionals regularly responds to these questions.

I am trying to remain as professional as I can be just didn't know how to react or what to say when I got their e-mail.My husband thinks it's their way of trying to get out of the lease, but they didn't not mention anything about wanting to move in the conversation I had with them.I guess we will cross that bridge if moving out is brought up.

Obtain professional legal, tax and lending advice always.  

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.