first you have to decide what you want to do in the note business.. what most of the responses are talking about is buying bad debt.. and 2nds at that which this is the most risky and the most work..if your looking for work and risk and job then that kind of note investing is for you.If your looking for Passive income with no work and Limited risk then you simply need to align with a great HML who takes on private clients or those that understand where performing notes are generated.. we have done over 1700 performing notes for clients that last 5 years and really don't advertise at all. simply because once you get conservative investors in your program it just feeds itself.. deal flow is the key right now.. most have a hard time finding quality. finding defaulted seconds is easy.. and the most risky. 

My second deal was buying the remaining lots (8) in my 11 lot subdivision that went bankrupt.

I have enough to buy the second all cash (just sitting in a 1.6% ally bank account at the moment) but i'm wondering if I should leverage my money and try and get a conventional loan or possible some kind of HELOC on the value of the first rental.

My second house I purchased was again the worst in the neighborhood, and it included an inaccessible extra lot that served as it’s backyard.

Just want the fastest way to get into our second investment.

Are you wanting to build your investments or have a second home paid in full?

I could’ve settled and I think I still would’ve made money but I want/need my first deal to be good/great as to help kickstart my REI journey and by my second and third property as well.

She's an agent shopping for her second property, ie., fifth unit.

After a year in the property, buy a second house hack, do the same thing.

I would have to second Tim's recommendation for Alex Goldovsky's book.