All wealthy people use debt to drive returns. 

I'm seeing a lot of people having success with flipping in Athens.

People are strange. 

If you haven't put the best possible,  experienced people around you, I might suggest getting involved with your local real estate investment groups...many of these people will have experience and contacts that could help walk you through the steps required to make this project safe and profitable or to show you why it might be something to walk away from. 

I will gladly take any suggestions like meet ups, learning websites, books, podcasts, or even meet with other people who started real-estate investing to talk while I buy them coffee or dinner. 

I know many people that would laugh at such a request.

It'd be great to have some people physically around me to keep me accountable.

It has been suggested to call these people 1hr prior to the showing time to verify they still plan to come.

. $140 equity in our primary residence that we’d be open to getting a HELOC on (would love feedback on if people recommend this or not).Given our limited available resources for down payment, high home prices, and higher interest rates, is now a bad time for first time investors to enter the market?

I think you'll be able to help a lot of people here!