Turn Key Rental Properties - Advice/Reccomendations

[Thomas Giacinto]

Hello All-

I am new to Bigger Pockets and new to Real Estate investing as well. I am looking to get started with my first investment property in the next 60-90 days. I am looking for some advice on a few points and would really appreciate any feedback:

1. My strategy is to buy and hold turn key rental properties out of state. Does anyone have any recommendations or advice for a first time investor? I have been looking at Norada Real Estate and Real Wealth Network as resources to get started. 
2. Second, I own my home in Southern California and am in the process of getting a HELOC. My plan is to use funds from that HELOC to finance the down payment portion of properties I purchase. This will reduce my positive cash flow, as I would be using positive cash flow to repay the HELOC and Mortgage + Expenses. Does anyone have any advice for, or against using a HELOC to fund down payments?
3. My strategy is not focused on large positive cash flow in the first 5 years, instead my strategy is to use 15 year mortgages to build equity in these homes faster, and then to leverage that equity to acquire more properties. Is this a common strategy among turn key real estate investors? Is there a downside to this strategy?

Thank you to everyone who reads and offers some advice on this topic.