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I also was allowed access to the Left Main onboarding videos that clearly showed the buildout was, indeed, completely different than what I was requesting. 

If you're unfamiliar with the area or market, or if you don't have access to data, you're probably missing out on making more $$. 

Is the area easy to access in the winter?

Passive landlord is a long game enter anytime stay for decades and most will do just fine.Active engagement same thing enter anytime and your reward is how hard you work identifying the hot ticket at the time  access to capital etc etc..

Besides traditional banks to access the equity via HELOC or refinance, what other programs are there via private lenders that will allow me to access that equity?

Having access to funds is also good back up (eg line of credit). 

Traditional banks don't have access to the different types of loans.

I'm a Realtor w/MLS access.

But if you want low cost, but still have access to that then it's great, as well as all the pyramid scheme programs involved with it :)Personally, I'll agree with @Dan Guenther, that the actual brokerage won't make a huge difference, it is more about who you surround yourself with.