Not exactly what I was looking for and the top of my budget, but seems to make sense any way I cut it

Many states have already said they aren’t extending it and have cut off the additional money so this train is coming into the station.  

So if the home is $100,000, and you own 50%, would they give you a heloc based on that 50% (50,000), or would they still somehow tie it to how far down the mortgage is paid off?

I wouldn't short cut this part. 

He also has a lot of ties east of DFW. 

Cashflow ~$800-$1,000 and pay tie student loan in 18 months or less with wise debt.

You won’t find clear cut answers.

Currently there are trees from a next door property that has grown over a fence into my yard and and even grown within the electrical pole wires (dangerous) Whose responsibility is it to cut them back?

How about you just do a joint venture agreement where you control the property that you are tied to with a mortgage and the other person has a JV agreement describing how you will split future profits. 

This question has been asked and answered literally 100’s of times. 95-99% of time ti,e it’s a bad idea in the opinion of those that don’t think they are always a bad idea.