Gas prices are high, but like most things, the media likes to blow things way out of proportion.

I have been a huge advocate for this type of strategy if available.

You also have to remember that prior to covid most folks would tell you the norm for that area was 20k per bedroom average - now I blow those numbers away but I also brought properties that I knew would blow those numbers away with the right amenities.  

Since it's a duplex house hack from a double closing and it's taken SOME time to get here, blowing it up would cause us to possibly not have a house for some time.

I'm not advocating lying on the HELOC application, but I've never heard of a bank coming to knock on your door after to make sure you live there...

In addition, they have access to wholesale pricing, which blows retail out of the water. 

If you really think you can get the $1,600 out of them go for it, but if it's a property you liked prior to the $1,600 hit that is a pretty small deviation to blow up a deal in today's market. 

Get your wife lots of roses and blow her kisses as you wave her off to work each day.Have you actually sold any properties As a realtor?

You are also very likely to blow your budget on a new build right now.

Remember the Wack-a-Doodle played by Woody Harrelson in the movie 2012, just knowing exactly what's coming and picks out a nice spot front row to just watch it all blow-apart, yeah, that's kinda how I feel on all this, lol.