For example, I see newer investors attempting wholesaling or bird-dogging for other investors to generate additional income to invest.

Use the HELOC on cash-generating opportunities like flips, then use the cash generated to buy long-term buy and hold investments. 

The idea is simple: purchase a property, live in one part, and rent out the rest to offset your mortgage or even generate profit.

Every day I mark how many calls to leads I made, how many people I contacted (and was it email, call, text) from my database/past clients....how many social media posts I answered or made, etc.I don't know if that's automating, but every week I can quickly see how much of each money generating thing I did.Do you use Google Calendar? 

Generational Wealth: If your SDIRA invests in real estate, those assets can pass to your heirs, benefiting from the step-up in basis (outside the SDIRA) or continued tax-advantaged growth if inherited in a beneficiary IRA.

Single family has more stabilized as there is not enough people who can afford homes.The purchaser is two very distinct types of groups who buy MF vs. single family and single family is bought to own and occupy, MF is bought to generate money.

A formal business built on this seems overkill as you’re essentially paying someone for a service that already has standard model.If you and the parnter have distinct business tasks/abilities (i.e. not what you would hire an agent or contractor for), such as off-market lead generation, that’s a different discussion.

I'll be looking for long term rentals that don't need any major repairs initially. 

Its pretty awesome (BTW, I am not affiliated with FUB, just a passionate users)You can capture all the homeowner demographics along with associated relationships and information - pictures, files, emails, notes, calls, text, etc.You can have a team number(s) at no addition costs (we use it to lead generate for different states and can be configured to round-robin. 

My original plan was to find a 4 plex in california buy using fha loan, move out after the first year and generate cash flow and appreciation, but after looking at properties it became clear to me that’s not possible with todays market and interest rates.