Quote from @Stephen Hood: I have a property that I want to move into and  purchase but am running into a challenge with the offer being contingent on selling our current property.

They will not offer that (instead relying on your advertised rate), but they will be willing to pay what you're asking without fuss as long as it is below that high threshold.

What do I care, it’s going to be the downpayment in 30 days and I get the deal over someone offering more but wants to put down $5k.

I never looked at the raw land offerings.  

Has anyone had recent success finding a bank that will offer a Heloc on a single family investment property in Jacksonville, Fl?

A triplex or quadplex could provide more units for rental income, but obviously will require more financing, so having your financials and pre-approval lined up early is key.Since you’re already looking to network, attending local real estate meetups is a great idea—you can also connect with seasoned investors or agents specializing in Long Island properties who can offer advice specific to the area. 

First I got preapproved (I know... another lender saying to get preapproved) of course it was important to my realtor and offer, but more important it gave me insight into what I could expect for cash needed, payments, etc. 

Real Estate Express, Kaplan, and The CE Shop offer online licensing courses with continued education, including investment and creative financing topics.

(a) A person may acquire an option or an interest in a contract to purchase real property and then sell or offer to sell the option or assign or offer to assign the contract without holding a license 

They often come with fewer complexities than multi-family (especially as a first investment) and can offer great appreciation and cash flow opportunities.