I arrive in Portugal a couple of days ago.

Focusing on A-B areas and taking a hands-on approach definitely helps with maximizing cash flow and equity.

Alternatively, your in-laws could partially gift the property by using the annual gift tax exclusion ($34K per couple annually), lowering the sale price and their taxable gain.

For myself hands down the fastest way to get to Fi is via house hacking. 

It is more expensive but may not require an appraisal and can close in a couple of weeks. if I can wait then I use the most competitive rehab. lender after obtaining multiple quotes. 

This is much lower than the costs associated with refinancing.Benefits of Mortgage RecastingLower Monthly Payments: The most immediate benefit is a reduced monthly payment, which can free up cash for other financial goals.Save on Interest: By reducing your principal balance, you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan, potentially saving thousands of dollars.No Credit Check or Appraisal: Unlike refinancing, recasting doesn’t require a credit check, income verification, or home appraisal, making it a quicker and simpler process.Keep Your Current Interest Rate: If you have a favorable interest rate on your current loan, recasting allows you to maintain it while still lowering your payments.Drawbacks of Mortgage RecastingRequires a Lump Sum: Not everyone has the cash on hand to make a significant lump sum payment, which can make recasting inaccessible for some homeowners.Doesn’t Shorten Loan Term: While your monthly payments are lower, recasting doesn’t reduce the length of your loan.

I remember a saying someone told me a couple of decades ago that convey's to real estate investing: "If you've been sitting at the poker table for 15 minutes and you can't figure out who the patsy is, you're the patsy!"

I was only with realize for maybe a couple weeks, so cant really speak on them. 

I'm a couple day older than you on here. 

A couple of us up here in the Bay Area are figuring out if someone could drive down a truck with supplies but I'm donating money first.