I currently have a VA loan but I have 150k left on my entitlement which is option #1, I am considering a HELOC, using the current sales of homes in my area being at least 100k more than what I purchase the home for #2, or refi out of the VA to use again.

The tenant was in default on 2.5 months of rent (about $1700 total), but also left the house with over $3000 in damages.

It shows that she -most likely- had a good score before she left and maintained it over the years.

Our current primary residence is worth $100k in current market conditions and we have $50k left on the house.  

So my policy is that I only change locks if the departing tenant was bad or left under less-than-optimal circumstances.

There aren't many of those left, but when you find them, they're lucrative!

So yeah, you "could" evict "if" but in reality it is only possible if tenant allows themselves to be evicted and if your to that point the tenant is not going to go "oh, sure, ok, evict me" because if they would have left already if willing to do that. 

She left before final walkout and of course did not leave a forwarding address but I do have her name , SSN and date of birth from her rental application.

By using a data-driven approach to all our property selection, staging, and pricing and occupancy metrics, along with an interview process with the owners, we have developed a great system for aligning with the right owners.

What's more interesting than the tax deductions you will get is you will have zero $ of your own money left in the deal and a $500/month cash flow.