Maybe keeping the current mortgage and utilizing the $25,000 HELOC is a reasonable path...just a little slower than the "cash out refi and buy 2 more properties" path... 

Purchase price: $25,000 Cash invested: $25,000 A quarter of an acre near Lake Travis wanted to do a multibedroom Airbnb/long-term rental since it's right outside of Austin and an area that's blowing up with rentals in the Texas Hill Country.

In areas where people often do not offer above asking price, they have been doing that all over the country. 

You can get the books cheap on Abebooks.com and support local small book stores abound the country. 

Thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country.

“If you have interest in purchasing the loan as a note and completing the foreclosure yourself, you are welcome to pursue that path with us as well as a qualified loan buyer.”

I can highly relate to your story and took an eerily similar path.

You know. . . the ones that made us the greatest country on earth.

I could use help with PM if you're interested, or happy to just serve as a resource or sounding board as you forge your path -- feel free to reach out. 

The people who are born and raised in Denver continue to opine about the affordability, but those who are moving into the city with fresh eyes will gladly take their profit from the coasts and pay all cash, over ask in order to live in (again, my opinion) the best city in the country - diverse economy, great work/life balance, friendly people, city without most of the big city problems, 300 days of sunshine....