What are the proper steps to take to get started.

Same with when I occasionally get gas in my vehicle using my company debit card... or occasionally run by staples or buy something off Amazon for my home office. 

You'd need one helluva track record to make the bank feel comfortable that the owner/operator is going to handle a portfolio like this properly, and make good on their investment.Do you have any experience operating projects this big? 

He owes $10,000 in credit card debt, student loans, and property taxes.

I own a brokerage in Oregon and we actually have 2 brokers that are pretty inactive, maybe a deal or two a year, they pay their own expenses such as business cards and MLS dues and we are happy to have them and help them when needed.

One way is to set up deposit-only ATM cards for each tenant (different banks offer these) that they can use to make the deposits but that you can deactivate if you're going through an eviction (provided there is an alternate method for them to make rent payments). 

I’m looking more in Genesee county vs northern Oakland, not Detroit proper.

I just politely asked for their business card and told them I'd contact them later if I was interested.

I've heard people mention credit cards but I'm not a fan of the interest rates.I did, however, look up personal loans through companies like LendingClub that can do the lower amount I would need and the interest looks to be in the Hard Money range.

I will check out REIpro and attend REIA's next meeting tomorrow just to be able to have conversations with people.Congratulations on taking your first steps into financial freedom, i am finally getting in my car and just driving for $$ today just to get a proper view of properties in my neighborhood and around.