It should be from someone who uses that person.

Of course most GPs have personally put in money to keep the deals from sinking.

I will make that proposal to the person I am talking and see where it goes.

I heard that if you move the personal mortgages to an LLC they could get called and we would want to avoid that3.

While this job could be performed remotely, working with my peers in person for at least a year is important to me.

Personally, I think I would stack some cash for a year or so while I did this. 

My recommendation would be to engage an investment property focused realtor (not a general residential realtor) and let that person guide you through the process from pre-qualification to market/property valuation and selection. 

I don't know if they still do it but if memory serves a few years ago TD Bank would do a HELOC on a rental in second position but only if it was titled in someone's personal name. 

Or a personal loan if interest rates aren't cost prohibitive?

People want reliability, honesty, being on time, and having a good personality more than just a few $$.