As far as tapping into your equity, HELOC is a very popular option, just make sure you work with a lender that hasn't historically been known for randomly reducing or closing the line of credit.

However, I am not able to find such deals through popular real estate sites (Zillow) or my brokers.

This could be in the form(s) of your choice - podcasts (typically free), books, blogs, facebook groups, local meetups (typically free as well), and of course here at Biggerpockets. 

If your goals are wealth building, then finding a market with great appreciation can be the better play (Hawaii being a decent choice for that and much of CA being some of the greatest for that). 

I had to make this choice early this year and I went with selling.

Weird that you can deny someone based on a personal healthcare choice that you can't legally ask about....

So you have no choice but to rebuild with home insurance?

In many markets across the country, including Denver, the short-term rental (STR) strategy for investors is gaining popularity due to the huge cash flow it can generate.

(And keep in mind, it's 6 months from close to close, and the refi is likely to take 45-60 days, so you can really start the application closer to 4 months out even if seasoning is required).A conventional cash out refi is one of the most common and popular loan products out there and you can't turn on the radio without hearing an advertisement for a refi.

Real estate is a low-risk and popular investment option.