I disagree with trying the intentional default, few years of living for free thing. We are a few years too late for that. And you really are a slave to your credit history if you want to apply for a job ever again. There is no reason to get your name on the title at all.
I think the best way to take advantage of the situation is by squatting. You don’t have to sacrifice your credit rating and you don’t have to get in any legal trouble. Simply find an empty property not being marketed. It doesn’t matter if it is bank owned or a walk away not yet foreclosed. Look up the name of the previous owner. Write up a fake lease. Move in, pay the water and electrical bills and wait. When they come to evict you, show the contract and demand compensation to move. No one will think to question the contract. They will assume the previous owner was pulling a scam. They will pay you a few thousand to be gone without a fuss. Repeat as desired.
I would be tempted to do this if I were single. You would never have to pay rent again as long as the banks are playing games with inventory. That will probably be years. Your stay might be short or long in any one place, but as long as you keep scouting for new places you can do it and make a little off it too.
