I was wondering if anyone else has gone through the process of obtaining a HELOC through a lender, and what tips/advice you would share for the process?

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

Anybody have any tips or advice on how they found their mentor?

@David Cruice Thanks for the tips. 

and anything else you may think relevant.Yes, I did my online research and have spoken to brokers, now I'm looking for actual real life experience.

Great tip.

Looking for tips on pricing the place appropriately..,..

I recommend to continue getting active on the forums, but also taking the time to listen to some podcast episodes, I am pretty sure they hit on tips for finding your first deal.I am also in the middle of reading Brandon Turner's "The Book on Rental Property Investing" and it has some good stuff in it that I hadn't picked up on over the past few years of self-education.

The first property I found I had been looking for months and then finally got a tip from a real estate investor friend.

@Troy S.I would say it depends on your level of connections to businesses and expertise in dealing with different businesses (e.g. logistical/legal/practical issues leasing the space to a restaurant versus convenience store).