Then get the HELOC pay the private lender a flat fee or a percentage.  

I would offer a flat fee of say $1k to help walk you through the deal.  

Also make sure if it was newly renovated they didn't lipstick the property with carpet,paint, replace door knobs etc.You want big items like heating,a/c, roof, plumbing, electrical,etc. to have a lot of life left on them.If you buy based on inflated rents and then have flat to depressed rent in coming years, higher turnover and make ready costs, and high capital costs for large ticket items you could lose a bunch of money.Make sure the property insurance policy is not a master one insuring multiple properties as the owners policy could be low in cost compared to what you will pay.

Should I avoid section 8 altogether, or should I use it to maximize rental prices in the area?

I am interested in 2-3 unit flats or walk-ups, which I guess is the equivalent of duplex, triplex speak on here.

It is a flat roof and looking for epdm system.

It's a Flat roof looking for a good epdm systemthank youJustin

ITS A FLIP:There are lots of Realtors here that will list the property for you in MLS for a $300 Flat Fee and provide a rented superkey lockbox on the front door to make it easy to show.

I'm looking at this really nice two flat.

Not saying you cannot make money doing what you're doing (though I've run the numbers many times and struggle to understand how people make any money on SFRs in a flat or declining market over the long term), but I would be hesitant to conclude. given your newness,that you have come across the best strategy for wealth building.