The fact that you cannot find much information about their LLC is not a concern.  

That's correct, I spend $140 per month on QBO ($90 for one LLC, and $50 for the other) plus my bookkeeper that averages about $500-$600 per month.Great idea, and yes I would do a trial for a few months using both.

That was right up until we started purchasing rentals.We have an LLC so we actually pay $400 per year for our LLC to file and then another $150 for us to have our personal taxes done. 

A debt service loan would be a good option if your DTI is high, you want to close in an LLC, you're self-employed or have low income on paper, or you don't have a stable 2-year work history.

The main reason cited that as a small property owner, not using PM's, if anything happens, the LLC and you will be sued anyway.

Greatly increased lending capital by transitioning from a ‘blind pool” fund to a series LLC / syndication model where investors know the property lending deal before committing to any loan and can “pick and choose” whichever loans they do or do not want to participate in.  

I dont see how the risk would be reduced on second mortgage unless you are planning to hold the property in some type of llc.

Quote from @Griffin Malcolm: Open an LLC and apply for a small business line of credit from Key Bank.

We are learning as we go here and I am curious on the approach others have used when going for their first property after getting their HELOC set up alongside an LLC and so forth.

Not sure if they have upgraded to desktop appraisals but if they are still doing in person appraisals , make sure you get everything (scope of work, good faith deposit, social, LLC docs, insurance, proof of prior experience, financial statements) in ASAP.