Are there any investors in Carbondale, Il who have experience with short-term rentals?

I know this is a long term strategy. 

You would want an closed end second mortgage instead of a HELOC for a long term cash use like a down payment.

My partner and I are looking to create a portfolio of long term rental properties to create freedom and independence from our W2 jobs, and create a foundation for generational wealth.

We now house hack the property to mid-term tenants.

I'm super interested in buying my first long-term rental near the Atlanta area with my brother. 

I think anyone who is holding property here with a long term view and doing it smartly is more likely to be rewarded for it than not.

Unfortunately, this is the primary reason I do not use third party vendors for rent payments, and I have posted on here a few times about this (usually when someone posts about a fraudulent clawback), despite the throng of enthusiasm for the continued use of these methods.Each one of my tenants is given a pre-designated bank account (idenitifed in the lease) to which they deposit rent. 

I'm a young individual who is deeply interested in investing in long term multifamily.

Essentially she wanted something in place in case something happens to her in the short term.