Seems like this method gives you a better chance at being successful.

Any advice or pointers will be greatly appreciated as we make our first step into securing our first investment.

I think we need good investors to step in like @Geoff Neidenbach to start displacing the 'slum lords' that have allowed the neighborhoods to continue to operate in despair. 

As for HELOC to pay off your mortgage, the concept really caught my attention, so I did a lot of research and ran various scenarios using an amortization table using the HELOC method vs making extra payments.

So how do I go about "soliciting" money from someone without stepping over the lines?

Open to ideas and suggestions as well as connection to Wholesalers and other fellow investors from all over.Welcome to add and PM me directly also to email or find me on the FB : Danny Trestian Also great Mentors in RE investment / Flips and other methods such as buying off the market / buying for cash flow high yield properties / multi unit commercial residential units / Flips and other methods and options.Looking forward to hearing from you,Danny Trestian 

Classic BRRRR method.

I suppose you have been reporting the rental income and expenses(including depreciation) on your tax return.If you get paid in Italian currency - it is your job to convert the amounts in USD when reporting it on your return.If you hold the property in an entity(partnership or corporation) you may have additional informational forms to file with the IRS.If you have a bank account in Italy with a value over $10,000 - you also have an additional informational forms to file with the IRS.You should have been entitled to a step-up in basis upon inheritance.

Does that sound like the next smart step for building toward retirement? 

I'm wondering what are the steps to purchasing a duplex you found on craigslist?