It depends on the type of lender, the broker is using.If a broker is using a wholesale lender, they make their money on the back end side.

I've been running the numbers on different properties using a variety of online calculators for properties that I initially thought looked like there may be potential.

If your local market is very active and homes are selling fast, you may be able to get by with doing less.Your Home’s Condition: If your home is vacant or has a unique layout, using a professional stager who can bring in the right furniture and accessories may help buyers truly visualize its full potential.Your Budget: Talk to your agent to get an idea of staging costs in your area, as it can be the difference between your house selling and sitting.

I suggest using a service like Mayistay.

We vend out mostly Ave none of our vendors want to use the vendor portal to communicate—they have their own business management systems and don’t need to bother using a new one just for us. 

If you do not have (2) full years of 1099 you can still get approved for a mortgage using a Non/QM program like a "1 Year 1099" program or Bank statements.

Now that I have some equity built up and want to pull some using a HELOC to purchase my next property, no one will work with me because the property is under an LLC.

From my own personal experience and from others I think most reach the "tipping point" from self managing to using a PM somewhere between 5-15  units, especially if you have a W2 and want to continue to scale. 

They maynot want to do this if they are using a Bank to finance, since thebank will want “First” lien position and you won’t want to do“Second” position.

If you’re not using a 1031 exchange, you’ll need to account for this.Reinvestment Risk: Entering new markets and managing multiple properties may present challenges, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the areas.Alternative StrategiesBefore committing to selling, consider these options:Leverage the Equity (HELOC or Cash-Out Refinance):With a 3.1% loan, selling might not be the best first move.