The aroma is amazing and the taste either neat or over ice is smooth and warm with a little bit of hug!

The answer to this question will take into account your mother's goals on how the money needs to work, transition plans in the future, risk tolerance, asset segment preferences (retail, industrial, MF, self-storage, etc.), and many other factors.

I will be the contractor working with the architect firm to ensure this project goes smoothly.  

My initial focus was on flipping, holding, and selling residential single-family homes in college areas, which provided a solid foundation in the nuances of real estate.After completing my degrees in late 2018, I transitioned my portfolio to a trusted partner (with whom I still collaborate) and relocated to Columbus.

Whatever you utilize this HELOC for, it is imperitive that you transition these funds into opportunities that provide a much higher return than what you are borrowing at. 

Personally, if possible, I would take the tax free money and transition that into a commercial multifamily property (5+ unit property) rather than 1031.

I find that a clear contract outlining responsibilities and expectations upfront helps ensure a smooth collaboration.

I am most interested in doing a few flips first to build some capital and then transitioning to the BRRRR strategy.

General Advice: For those who have successfully transitioned from a W-2 income to full-time real estate investing, what were your key steps?

You could try the angle that the owner was trying to manage too many units before and now that you've taken over legal responsibility for the worst ones, you will make sure things go smoothly.