It's far safer than working on ladders, and it also has some unbelievable storage space.On the possibility of the business arrangement per the previous post, we actually had a business arrangement gone bad, of sorts. 

I know that my 2nd and 3rd properties will go more smoothly, so I can arrange repayment to my HELOC more easily.

Now even if both parties agree to the arrangement, there could be various legal and tax issues.

So for me, it really doesn't matter what my living arrangement looks like.  

Any input to how this protects me, and if it's a good idea to move forward with this arrangement?

Fractional OwnershipThe phrase “fractional ownership” is typically used to describe shared ownership of a vacation or resort property by people in an arrangement which allocates usage rights based on time.

Any managing brokers in the Tacoma area that would be interested in this low volume arrangement?

That is an awesome arrangement.

It would be fine to ask them to accommodate a new arrangement if they're willing to sign a new lease with you, but this is not something you can obligate them to do if you are inheriting them from the previous landlord.

Andrea F. gave you which would be ideal (although maybe hard to find), you could also look for lease option arrangement or seller financing options to 'make your own terms', so to speak on the deal until you eventually qualify for conventional lending (lots of info online on both of those strategies and in BP community).