We were able to raise about $8M (4 short) and long story short, ended up partnering with a national management company and an institutional investor to raise the full $12M.

I'll just wait till I have a problem and assume that day will never happen.Truth be told if I had my druthers I would want landlord licencing instituted.

Contact all your local lending institutions to find out if/how you qualify to buy those rental properties.

They work with our 800+ property portfolio, other management companies, investors and groups including institutions. 

Im instituting professionally made video walkthroughs and requiring tenants to drive by the property.

As for the getting started, I started at YouTube University and the institute of Podcast.

I had a knack for finding the deals,  Had credit ratings and relationships with the financial institutions.

I think another good example is the RDU area in NC - where you have a really neat mixture of geography, but also the contribution from a few extremely top notch educational institutions that all compliment each other and are in close enough proximity to enjoy each other's spill over effects. 

They are often NEAR or if not near then AFFILIATED with a medical institution such as a hospital.

Does anyone have a lead or knowledge of a reputable institution to place a HELOC on the investment property?