You can find a ton of FREE information on Biggerpockets.The thing is, are YOU one to put the extra effort to do it yourself OR would you like to buy someone's FRAMEWORK to speed up the process.My STR course is 4 times that for buying a short term rental. 

Speed Simplicity SavingsGoals: Own 100 Units in property by 8/1/2020By Year Goal:2016:2-4 Units201710-20Units201830-45 Units201945-70units2020100-115 units2220++35 units a year from there on out Market changes will be neededThe Shell What: Target absentee owners with recent or current tenant evictions Why: Under attacked marketLarge growth potentialAllows scalability in different locationsProfit margins Where: Cities that have a large multi-family abundanceGrowing citiesNear Transportation preferablyCities with growing house prices How Direct MailAdvertisementsWord of mouthLawyers Who-Team Property ManagerAccountantLawyersReal Estate AgentsMortgage BrokersContractorHard money LendersPrivate Money lendersPortfolio BrokersWholesalersExpected Result Obtain lower cost housing with higher marginsCreating a team that can handle any and all problemsProfitBuying Points Houses at 70-75% or lower APR value12% cash on cash return10% appreciation on assetNo warzone propertiesLooking for C+ through B houses in C+ through B neighborhoods 2-4 unit homesPain targets Money Loss from tenant not paying rentStress of dealing with tenantsTime involvementDamage Costs (house)Vacancy costsMoney acquisitions Conventional Mortgage up to10 properties Seller financing (difficult because most people won’t be free and clear)Portfolio lender past 10 propertiesHard Money lender with BRRRR strategyPrivate Money Lender with BRRRR strategyHow this differentiates from the competitionThis process differentiates from many different Real estate strategies, because execution of this strategy requires information on current and previous evictions.

This buyer is trying to find people who need cash and speed.

While at the same time drastically increasing the speed at which transactions can take place - especially in places like NY where I have been waiting 30-60 days for title work to come back on some transactions recently.

I have a multi-family listing in the fastest-growing city in the country.  

I know if he were to do this very close to the sell date the IRS may frown, especially if the HELOC funds are used for non-investment purposes, but can either of you help elucidate whether or not a HELOC could be used to speed up portfolio expansion now, prior to converting the prop to a rental and eventually 1031ing into other props?

To manage tenants, you have to stay up to speed on all the local, state and national legalities, which change on a constant basis.

We owe $49k on that one due to having to dip into it after some renters destroyed a rental and it required a good chunk to get back up to speed.

This is the fastest and easiest way to boost the value and get all you cash, and then some back.

I'm not sure the validity of your tax plan.Why would transferring the properties to an LLC speed up your acquisitions?