If you had an amortized loan and a heloc, with the same balance and interest rate, and made the same exact payment to each loan, they would both get paid off at Exactly the same time  The Only advantage to the heloc is that you  have access to borrow money if you need it....since you’re putting more cash into your loan every month above the scheduled payment. 

However, if the lease ends at an unfavorable time of year, we let them know it's not necessarily to our advantage to extend 6 months.

Investor demand for grocery store properties has soared during the pandemic, transforming the sector into one of the hottest real estate investment categories.

It also seems that there is a severe lack of inventory in the Charleston area so waiting would seem to be to my advantage even without the constraints of my loan eligibility (or lack thereof). 

Read up on using RRSP to fund your first deal as you may want to take advantage of the FTHBP.

Am i at an advantage by having good credit and equity?

It’s also advantageous compared to many other investments due to the fact that it depreciates over time, which can help you preserve wealth.

The advantage with a local bank is that it's pretty quick, generally no back and forth with tons of paperwork and last min requests. 

Looking forward to networking with other investors in the greater Raleigh area as either a contractor or to partner on deals, especially where I can use the advantage of restoration within my area of expertise.   

Based on my experience so far, I would recommend the following people/businesses:Realtor: Jeff Todd (Keller Williams Paint Creek)Broker: Tom Ciosek (Lakeside Advantage)property Manager: AG Management in Royal Oak Please message me for more specific details and I wish you the best of luck!