I had incredible diffculty finding a RE attorney to work with, and most are experienced with customary RE transactions.  

Hey @Clayton Jeanette, I'd shop around, there are very widely varying terms in HELOCs since they are usually held in house by banks.

But it can also be incredibly rewarding if your passion aligns with helping others navigate their financial lives.Given your background and interest in personal finance, you're already ahead in some ways.

I'm excited to join this forum and be part of such an incredible network of real estate enthusiasts and professionals.

An incredible addition to our portfolio that will help us generate wealth for years to come.

Set your travel boundries first... local, regional, state wide, multi state, etc. 

It is much more of a working-class market than Santa Fe, where historically the market has offered a wide range of housing, from entry level to luxury homes, most being in suburban style neighborhoods and large developments.

IE - they're stringing you along to get exposure to deal flow, and they're not making any tangible or material commitments to being your financial partner, unless it's an absolutely incredible deal that they cannot afford to miss out on.

Speaking to them was incredibly eye-opening.

Thank you all for the feedback, it's incredibly helpful!