I didn't know anything about credit, income statements, balance sheets, debt, leverage/etc before college.  

You don't need money or credit to buy properties.

Also, I would recommend finding a real estate agent that you trust, and also start talking to lenders (banks, mortgage brokers, credit unions, etc.)

But taking my willingness to move on as weakness and incrementally increasing the bill amount unreasonably.So, I want to prepare myself for all eventualities.

I like to make more reasonable offers and negotiate credits during the inspection phase. 

@Matt GilroySo he's going to know that something is up when you show up and start inspecting in the corners.Do your inspection, mark off your checklist, and prepare for inevitable personality conflicts over nothing as the relationship shifts.Showing up is one of the basic rules of self-managing your rentals, Matt.

After a certain point you should be prepared to go without mentors and most learning will come through experience, but if you want to cut down the learning curve and accelerate your path to your goals find someone who has been there before and learn as much as possible.

. , If you take the money out of the equity line of credit ( it is not called HELOC if it is not your home), there are few treatments. 1) If you invest the money taken out in the investment or other business, the interest is deductible in that business activity, not at you rental activity. 

I bought & rehabbed a house from 1000 miles away using my personal credit line.

Tried a couple local credit unions and both wanted at least 2 years history for my business (which I don't have yet).