This is my first thread on BP as I've been spending the majority of my time researching and reading on the forums, however I do have 1 quick question i was hoping you all could help me with.I intend to use a HELOC on my primary residence for my first rental purchase and through my research i've learned that banks like to see funds in a bank account for a certain period of time, before they are willing to accept those funds as a viable down payment for a loan on an investment property.This is interesting to me, because the obvious goal with a HELOC is not to use those funds until the last minute, since you are paying interest on them. 

Asking the question in a forum will get you many responses and it can make deciding difficult.

In other forums we talked about doing a vacation rental, wife and I decided to try it locally and learn how to do it before going virtual.Thanks all or any help.

Here are some good places to start:http://www.biggerpockets.com/meet - find and connect with other BP members that are in your area.http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts - Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you.And, of course thehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/forums - ask any question about real estate!

Read below earlier post and the reason why Las Vegas is still the value play.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/712/topics/51...

If you are interested in any of those topics there's a wealth of free information available on the BP blogs, forums, and podcasts.

I've roamed around the site and the forums a couple weeks now, even commented here and there, but have not formally introduced myself.

I have read many contradicting forums and articles about where I should start, but both come back to getting educated.

Hang out in the forums and ask questions. 

It is great to have you and feel free to jump in the community there are great people in the forum.