Since Landlords are going to be monitored even more now with the price gouging issues surrounding the fires in LA, I would be extra cautious.

However the key is making sure the numbers pencil out so that, at minimum, even in the worst case, you can pay back that heloc because interest on that is going to be very high.

Will it even cash flow? 

I am in it and feel it is worth it as they have groups all over the country who, with experience transaction coordinators and funding groups, and even closers to help you along the way.

Even if I were sued, I document everything and obey the law, so I won't be found guilty.

Podcasts on the way to and from work, and read a book right before bed, maybe even squeeze a few minutes into browsing some specific topics in the forums.

It could even be (more) interesting from a lifestyle point of view as you'll get to stay in different cities/houses every time you go.

Many have never even stepped foot in the US.

As Jay mentioned they must be NMLS licensed if owner occupant of in several states even commercial needs licensing.The NMLS is like the database, each state has a division of banking that oversees lending requirements then you also on the federal level have CFPB as well as consumer protection laws.I want to add that I believe yesterday the CFPB is undergoing changes, but if it goes away that does not mean that many of the laws in place especially consumer protection laws would go away. 

If I had to leave a takeaway from this post before getting too far in it would be that whatever goals are had you have, we have these goals for a reason and typically it does not go exactly as planned but even if it doesn't go as planned, we can pick up where we left off and give it a fresh start.