I'm OK with the cost, since the tenants pay for it and it's getting excellent rent already.

Excellent advice!

With an excellent DTI (20% or below) and an excellent credit score (740 or above) you will have more loan options and will be able to secure the best terms.

High automation yielded excellent results.

I was thinking I could come in there with all my excel spreadsheets and financials, showing them I know what I'm doing, and doing well in my small, yet growing, REI business.Does anyone have any good tips or "dos and don'ts" on getting a HELOC? 

So to sum up, I've got goldmines of information sitting in a box waiting for me to dig it up. 

My present home has almost been paid off and is in an excellent location.

By the time X years have passed, the guideline specifying X years will itself likely have changed to be some number other than X (X-2 is what you hope for, but X+2 is also a possible change).So, instead, I'm simply going to suggest that you are at least a year out, and...Have your outlook or other digital calendar ping you annually on the date that the bk was completed (discharged etc), and dial for dollars annually asking your go-to lender what the current guideline is on that anniversary date following a chapter 7/13/whatever bk. 

But also consider using a broker and property management company, with the trouble and financial loss you are dealing with now it would more than pay for itself.The Asbury Park Press just did an excellent 4 or 5 part series on the state of landlord/tenant around the state.

The reason I'm posting is; I've put together a simple property analysis excel form to help me financially evaluate new properties quicker.