Primarily for personal use for the family as well as an investment (but the numbers need to work), I am just starting out searching for a property so I am open to all suggestions and comments.

Hey all,Does anyone have any personal experience with First Savings Bank and their 1st lien HELOC?  

Real estate investing is forgiving; the average person can still make money even with some big mistakes.

I called that person two more times just flabber ghasted that I actually got a banker to admit this info is legitimate with many more questions.

The owner was motivated due to personal circumstances and wanted to avoid the hassle of listing the property publicly.To negotiate the deal, I started by understanding the seller’s priorities.

Quote from @Basit Siddiqi: I personally would not buy real estate with a retirement account.There are just too many headaches that are not worth the potential increased return.Some headaches when it comes to investing in real estate with a retirement account1) LTV values are less and harder to find lenders.2) Potential to sell or partially distibute the property if you have to do a RMD(Required Minimum Distribution)3) If you run out of cash and have to make a major repair, you may be out of luck and have to sell.4) Having to potentially worry about UBTI(Unrelated Business Taxable Income)I would personally invest in stocks/bonds/notes with a retirement account.I buy deals with cash and use a ROTH SDIRA so there are no RMD's.I buy at huge discounts to retail.

@Jason Weidmannit's only solid if:1) you pick a market that you can go to in person and build a team first, and 2) you recognize that RE is a long-term investment, and you may have to wait 5-10 years, or longer, before seeing ANY return. 

Haven’t used it personally but a good friend of mine who self manages around 20 doors uses it and swears by it. 

The GC is a business person who doesn't care about your ARV, LTV, or your budget.

That depends on a lot of personal factors such as your finances.