Some ideas besides that:Depending on how much equity you have you could do a cash out refinance to get money that way. 

Purchase price: $95,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Sale price: $173,000 Purchase price – 95,000Closing costs at purchase & sale - $6800Total renovation costs $21,935Sold for - $173,000Total profit – $49,265https://www.zillow.com/homes/11311-marbern-dr-hagerstown-md_rb/37683475_zpid/https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/M5889931134https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hagerstown/11311-Marbern-Rd-21740/home/15360019 What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Cash flow can be good.   

The other option, however, is that I can live more or less for free for the rest of the year between a few family members and friends and save that bit of extra cash towards the purchase.The extra cash could either help me jump on a deal sooner or it could be a buffer/money for potential renovation when I move in.

It offers a strong balance of cash flow potential and appreciation.

Not only is the return not there, if you don’t pay cash for the system you can kill the sale of your property.

Purchase price: $95,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Sale price: $173,000 Before moving in we had to remediate some mold in the basement.

Bob is right that you can get better cash flow on the east side, but I still see deals pop up over there from time to time and I don't see any rapid depreciation in those neighborhoods coming any time soon and I think if your strategy is to buy and hold in nicer areas with less risk, it's a very good area to target.

I have evaluated it to be able to cash flow as a STR with the lender special rate, even with a conservative 48% occupancy. 

. $425k) to purchase a 12-unit Apartment ($1.5M) with 25% down ($375k from the HELOC).The remaining $50k from the HELOC could go into fixing/rehab of the 12-units.Then cash-refinance the larger amount from the 12-units to pay off the HELOC in one lump-sum (as much as possible), then using the cash flow from the apartment to pay off the rest of the HELOC.Repeat the process with a new apartment.1) Does this make sense?