The variable nature of the HELOC freaks me out a bit in the current environment we're in, but it would give me the option to pull out equity while leaving my current 2.75% mortgage rate as is.I'd love any guidance you can offer - thanks in advance!

Great care needs to be given to the entity structure and nature of the sale. 

No matter how much reading, research, preparation, etc you do, there's always going to be something that comes up that you couldn't plan for, but that's the nature of investing - there's always a level of risk associated with it no matter how much you due diligence you do.

No, it’s just the nature of the business.  

With the increasing airfares and costs to fill up, guests are naturally going to look for more economical ways to take a vacation.

I am naturally drinking less because of it.

Get familiar with weather trends and natural disasters the area is prone to as to protect and insure against them (tornado, floods etc) Know how the construction materials of your home fair in the environment it's in. 

Perhaps a multi-family home or something of that nature.

as soon as landlords could they raised rent legally rents are now up 20% or more since this was enacted.. human nature at play.

However, I am curious on you guys' thoughts about the value of land and properties after a natural disaster - tornado and/or hurricane.