My goals are to buy and hold and to do the occasional fix and flip. 

Hubby did not, and we occasionally borrowed against his.  

Has anyone found lenders (preferably credit unions or small local banks) that do HELOCs on investment properties, or are okay with a tax return that shows income generated occasionally on a 2nd home?

Ru Monsell,Kenneth LaVoie is in Winslow, Me.He is a very active Real Estate Investor in Maine.He is an occasional poster on this site.Raymond

Aside from the occasional flip myself, I work with multiple local investors who purchase fix/flips and multi family units.I've heard a lot of talk lately, on a national level, about our market here in SW Ohio.  

Lasts a very long time, occasionally just needs a refinishing.

We would occasionally get the person who shows up in the morning, but never a day early. 

Prior to this we did get the occasional person thinking it was too cold, but we only get that about three times a year now with 3 pool cabins.  

Occasionally I may post a topic on here to strike up a conversation.

Makes a big difference.Most contractor "partnerships" I have seen simply involve him floating the cost of the rehab until sale and occasionally hearing about a deal.