When you finance through national lenders, in your experience, is a balloon a common requirement for commercial loans of this nature or is it possible to get a fixed rate for 30 years?  

What loan?

@Jordyn Ohsnot enough info to helpbut if you're using a HELOC for the down payment AND getting a loan, then you're probably negative cash flow given that's 100% leveragei would never do that unless i were going to refinance in the short term

I specialize in small multifamily properties and house hacking working alongside BiggerPockets podcast guest Andrew Freed to help investors find high-performing deals in Central MA.My Background:  - Started in late 2019 I utilized an FHA loan to get my first 3 family property in Fitchburg, spent about a year fixing it up and soon after I refinanced. 

Paying off the note is what helps.. in my mind and how I did my sub tos  I would never buy just because of low downpayment or interest rate.. there HAD to be big equity upside DAY ONE.. other wise its just a PITA

He made his own mom get a loan?   

If you did finance some of the purchase using a non-recourse loan, then you need to read up on UBTI/UDFI and there are some taxation benefits that the IRA can achieve since it now owes taxes in that scenario.

(This includes Amazon)Equity Loan The last opportunity I've thought about recently, is taking the equity out of the house here in Italy, and investing it into a property in the US where appreciation is higher.

Hey Patrick, This would be a DSCR loan.

so you're recommending that my starting point should be finding a real estate agent, utilize theirbknowledge to learn about the process, and get referrals for good loan officers.