We’ve come up with some strategies (and thanks to the first couple responses for productive perspective).

It takes the edge off of trying to use the money/forcing a deal since I am not paying interest on it until I draw it.But there are a couple of different variables in your situation, you will technically have to pay another set of "closing costs" when you pay off your home, whoever gives you the heloc will have to appraise, underwrite, etc. 

It allows me to represent my own brand without being a broker.

I am brand new and wanted to start messing with the calculator and look at some potential deals. 

A couple things come to my mind:Seems to me that an empty pool is just as much a liability as a fully operating pool. 

After listening to the Bigger Pockets podcast for a couple of years, I finally decided to join the community here.

Have you seen a massive price spike after a major event (like Florence and likely Michael, or Matthew a couple years ago?)

Just a couple quick thoughts. 

@Wendy Carpenter I have a couple of loans that require some type of quarterly reporting like that. i would not sweat it too much.

If there's a big enough dollar value, you can also look into investing in the brand new "opportunity zones" but you wouldn't live there.