These liberal states passing all of these emergency moratoriums are going to see more homelessness as landlords refuse to rent to people if rent doesn’t have to be paid.

I would push more broadly to find a lender that will loan against the house - either by a cash-out refinance or a HELOC.Personally I’d definitely want to take advantage of the current rates (but I’d also definitely get a 30-year mortgage instead of a 15-year since I’m viewing fixed-rate mortgages as an inflation hedge).I’d say refi or HELOC on your current home and rent it out while you take some of the liberated cash and put 3.5-20% down on your new home.  

Several liberal arts colleges have already filed for bankruptcy or announced that they will be closing their doors.

Are there any clever ways to liberate my equity as cash? 

Sounds crazy to me, and Austin even though in a conservative state is very liberal and I can see down the road adopting some of those same policies.  

Being mostly Liberal I would assume they have. 

@Gabriel CardusNot totally on point here, but we own a few furnished medium-term rentals in Colorado Springs, and it's private liberal arts college -- Colorado College -- just kicked its students out of the dorms due to covid concerns.

I am no expert on FHA requirements but I understand that the lending standards are quite liberal for owner-occupied homes. 

But maybe as I grow my portfolio and have more in the bank, I’ll be able to to be a bit more liberal in reserve percentages. 

And even when local residents find themselves short of cash, we have another huge advantage on much of the rest of the world: liberal property ownership rights.