I have heard there are 1000 ways to go about this, but I am inexperienced and don't really know where to begin on looking for funding.  

If you are funding your next purchase solely with rental profits you will be waiting a long long time before you can buy the next one.

So the time has come to SOLIDIFY MY FUNDING. 

Think of it this way, who am I to determine who the funds go to now that I am releasing them?

I think I would be lucky to qualify for a loan of half the amount of what I estimate the property to be worth.So as of now I'm saving (5k now), keeping my credit score in the "excellent" range and trying to learn new ways to fund my first investment even if it isn't purchasing the multiplex I live in now. 

Hello there everyone, I am a veteran exiting the Army soon and I desire to become a Real estate investor.

Would love to hear of any other great tools out there.www.rentometer.com - compare rent for a specific address to the surrounding areawww.rentlingo.com/where-should-i-live - heat map for desirability of specific areaswww.areavibes.com - provides info about desirability of areas. 

I am in the process of looking for my first real estate deal in West Michigan (Muskegon/Grand Haven area) and am trying to determine whether a cash-out refi or a HELOC on my primary residence is a better option to fund the deal.

So you need more money at the get go to make them work. plus these properties are in locations that are up and coming/desireable, are expensive to build new housing in/don't have open space, etc. that's why they gentrify, because they are near more expensive areas.

I don't want to upset my stomach.So in closing I say great job.. and keep up the good work its a Huge advantage to have bank funds for these deals and only paid on drawn funds etc etc.