Your best bet is the highest money down conventional you can do.

@Joe Carpyou can buy rentals with a DSCR loan, and they will not require W2 income like a conventional bankhowever, down payments will be 15-30%, so will use up your cash fasthow to scale as we sink money into each property is definitely a major challengei have done a couple successful BRRRRs that helped preserve capitalhope this helps

You aren't getting a conventional loan unless you have several years as a 1099 of similar income.

This is pretty low hanging fruit: If you do not already own real estate (personal occupancy) I would start by purchasing a SFH or 1-4 unit using a conventional mortgage:1.

As a foreigner getting conventional lending might be an obstacle and I think there will be many people on this forum that can provide resources to guide you through. 

I would imagine a conventional loan would take too long to get approved in order to close before the foreclosure auction date?

For conventional loans via Fannie, I know that there is a 60 day seasoning for downpayment funds for conventional loan. 

Would there be issues with the 30-year conventional bank loan itself for the 12-unit apartment since the down payment is from a HELOC?

Could I get the usual conventional loan?

Cheyenne,You should attend the Noteworthy convention in Las Vegas this October where you'll have a chance to meet with quite a few people in the note and real estate business.