Would a HELOC be a “good” way to start a REI business?

[Michael Lopez]

A am a licensed RE agent and have rehabbed one property years ago prior to the housing crash. My wife who is also an RE agent was contacted by a friend of ours that asked about opening a HELOC in order to purchase a property and try to flip it at minimal cost for maximum return. I actually used a HELOC to do my rehab. My question is not whether it can be done. I know it can be done if the numbers amongst other things work. My question is, do you think that opening a HELOC is a “good” way to do that? Should they risk their home, or should they go another route like HML or whatever other suggestions you may have? Thanks!