Is there anything I need to do prior going to the bank?

Lower appraisal means better protection for the bank.

I'm thinking of about a hundred ways to do this, but did you try refinancing with a local bank? 

However, when I went to speak with Bank Midwest, they offer a HELOC on investment properties. 

And the owner will only sell them together.If a bank is willing and able to do a commercial loan vs buying them individually, are there a foreseeable advantages or disadvantages from your perspective?

Lenders are so efficient it is on the auction block where buyers have to pay 5% hammer fee to the firm and bank to acquire a property at market price. 

And I tell them make sure the rent money is in the bank on the first.Another tenant, slightly better qualifications, missed one electronic payment recently, but tells me he had to help a relative out, and spend $29K.

As you know, these appear more high-risk for banks.

Richmond VaI am thinking about hiring a property manager to collect the rent, and pay the HOA fees while depositing the remainder in a bank account for my mom and I to access.My working budget is $300k and I am looking to get a minimum of $1.5k-$2k per month in rents.Insights welcome

The problem is that all the bank owned stuff - which is always the most likely stuff to be discounted - has dried up quite a bit.