The product offers two tiers, free and "plus."

For lending, yes, you will be limited when it comes to conventional lending, as those loan products are made for owner-occupied properties.

I just choose not to buy unnecessary products I feel like are price gouging. 

Try Goosehead Insurance -- they are a brokerage (not a single agency)  started by investors because they were not finding the products they needed. 

He knew his product was valuable and was in a great position to partner with those he chose.

Work with the city and local brokers to identify the exact product type to meet the housing needs of the area.

So, you if you are not waiting that period you are likely looking at a non secondary market program likely why you are being offered 15 year instead of 30.We do have a non-seasoning at all 30 year product but we do not lend in MS unfortunately. 

Once your production reaches a certain level, or that of you and a few like-minded peers does, it can still be perfectly viable to run your own branch.

I'm looking for a new lender for this HELOC product and I see this as the only solution if I'm going to keep my low-rate, first position mortgage intact.

The products offered will always vary and part of being a broker is knowing the borrower's scenarios and our lenders to know where the pieces fit best.