If the answer is yes, then go for it.Also keep in mind another great advantage of the HELOC is that unlike the hard money loan where you take it all out at once and pay interest on the entire loan, you can break up the withdrawals from the HELOC to minimize the interest costs.

I would like to get my real estate license after I move to Illinois so that I can get better acquainted with the system and potentially use that to my advantage if I buy in Illinois more than just the one house per PCS which has been my usual.

The advantage was someone was paying the utilities, keeping it safe from freezing, theft/damage & preventing feral ghetto rats from breaking in.

I don’t want to take advantage of their trust in my experience or lack there of.

It's a great thing to take advantage of this kind of platform to build your financial future in a secure way.One of the best ways to start learning real estate investing is to LEARN through books, websites like THIS, podcasts and also attend real estate events in your area in order to build some great relations with those who have experience in the profession. 

If you are an engineering major, or healthcare or other in demand career field I would suggest taking full advantage of that.

At 17 and with $290, I would start planning and doing a few things: I would stick with learning as much as I could here on BP for free, maybe joining some local RE groups and get to those meetings where I could mingle with them and get known, being 17 you have youth as both an advantage and as a DISADVANTAGE till people get to know and know you as a dependable dedicated man on paper and screen till you have successes under your belt you may be looked more as a liability as you are 17 so you must prove your worth more.

They recognize the advantage that gives them in functioning in a dysfunctional world.

If so, that's not an area I know much about, but I do know there are unique risks (and advantages) to that kind of arrangement. 

The demand for short term rentals is high around Annapolis and I personally take advantage of this in various way (roommate, in-law suite on my property).