Someone recommended a small lending company to get a mortgage for a buy and hold property.

@Ming HuangRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

They will tell you what areas want to buy and areas that are more difficult to rent. 

IE becoming a MFR landlord you do need some training.Its just like when you buy a franchise you have to go to their training so you learn how to cook the burgers right and so on and so forth.

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

Quote from @Brandon Vukelich:If you buy a vacation rental in Hawaii, then you're tied to that location.

Give them all a call and see if they are willing to sell and if not are they in the market to buy.

That's a horrendous fallacy and a weak mindset to think that real estate agents are buying the best multis.

He buys small barns and converts them into 2-3 bed cabins.

Nobody forced you to buy a property as a investor you are entitled to do your own research and due diligence.