What I do think and this is just my 2 cent opinion is I do not think we will see steep drops, I think we will see some softening in areas over the next few years where we do not get appreciation - which with inflation still going strong will essentially lead to pricing staying the same / lowering slightly between now and 2027ish which with cost of dollar not going as far will be essentially the same as salaries etc. catching up to home prices.Hope that makes sense. 

Afterwards, is there essentially no risk?

Easy to use yourself too HELOC works (there may be some places that do a HELOCs on rental properties)I personally have used a 401k Loan on a few occasions - You're essentially borrowing money from your 401k and paying yourself back (interest goes back into your 401k as opposed to a bank) and if you don't pay your 401k back the loan would simply become a withdraw (maybe some tax penalties, but you could probably finagle a workaround).

This bodes well for long-term equity growth.Rising Rents: The uptick in rental prices shows a strong demand for rental properties and could lead to better cash flow for investors.Economic Strength: Reading has a diverse economy, with key sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and education providing stability.Rental Demand: Low vacancy rates signal that people are actively renting in the area, which is essential for scalability.Future Development: Any upcoming infrastructure projects or new businesses could further boost the market.With these positive trends, it seems like Reading could be a scalable rental market.

Having your financing lined up is essential because many properties receive institutional bids.

We're living in times when franchises go out of business overnight, but healthcare will never be since it is essential. 

Both properties have a substantial amount of equity that’s essentially sitting idle.Would it be a good idea to tap into this equity (through a HELOC, cash-out refinance, etc.) to fund future fix-and-flip projects or purchase additional rental properties?

Would tax deed sales be essentially the same process? 

Given the short-term nature of mid-term rentals, including utilities can make your property more attractive to potential tenants, but it’s essential to factor that into your overall rent pricing.The best way to go about this is to ensure your listing is visible to your target audience.

Essentially its not a calculator since it is speculative, however based on "comps."