BP-I️ am opening another HELOC on a property this week and was wondering if the loan brokers out there can help me understand exactly how this is effectively counted “against” me in acquiring a new loan for the next property

Since you are effectively borrowing the whole thing, you will be paying interest on the HELOC once you right that check.

I do a lot of 'self help', business, history and biographies.

[So in effect, blame it on those Lenders]. 

I just submitted a purchase offer for my first rental property: a 2-unit that cash-flows well reasonably close to my house (I will self-manage).

Is it cost-effective to have a RE attorney draw up the contract/paperwork to protect my interests, and kinda help me navigate? 

How much income would yoube comfortable taking home on this portfolio, where it would remain self-sustaining?

And there are also property managers for self storage facilities, retail, office buildings, etc.

the market rents in the area do not include storage, garages or washer n dryer hook ups, these are unique money making units, the average storage unit at a self storage place is around $125/mo I figure I could charge 100/mo per garage bay and 75/mo for the storage units, 3 very large storage units and 2 garage bays, I would keep a garage bay for myself. offering a discount to the current tenants seems like a smart idea.I was thinking later down the line, either refinancing for 2nd property, or trying to get the permits to turn the finished attic into a 4th apartment and turning the 2.5 story garage into a 5th apartment(townhouse style), then I'd have 5 doors on 1 property, seems appealing though I have not even bother researching this yet because I'm trying to take it one step at a time.

1) Have clear Goals with access to capital 2) Perform daily Rituals that support the Goals 3) Uniform Branding 4) Marketing Plan (which I call a Massive Action Plan) 5) Conduct Daily Outreach 6) Due Diligence systems (either self-taught or through formal training) 7) Vetted Team in place (all the vendors and partners needed) 8) Workout systems (either self-taught or through formal training) 9) Living Forms Library (you need this to Note Invest at a high level) 10) Discipline to maintain the processes and treat Note Investing like a Business Please feel free to add to the list...