We would hate to lose the interest write-off, so if we can’t use the HELOC as an expense we will move it to a traditional stand alone mortgage.

Moving from LA to Austin might seem like a bargain and probably so, but if your looking to build wealth then you will do better with lower end properties that don't lose cash flow to HOAs or Condo association fees.  

[Biggerpockets] is notorious for the no and no money down niche, but you really need to have a good financial runway prior to investing otherwise you will lose your bottom when it goes sideways.Read all the usual books.

When all the speculators and builders were losing everything during the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression, I held on to all my properties.

As the others have mentioned this is a losing proposition.

They have emailed me in the past their rejection rates and, while I do not have it memorized, they do reject a decent percentage of service animal requests because the provider of need for service animal certificate is a known pay for certificate provider.You have nothing to lose. 

Vacant properties also are targets for vandals and squatters, and often require special higher rate insurance.The program with this arrangement is agents lose the incentive to actually show there property and present offers.

Including utilities in the rent requires a lot more effort on your part and you're more likely to lose money when the tenant squanders the utilities.

I would lose the $1000/mo in cash flow, but not have any additional liabilities.I am really racking my brain here, and am ready to hear from all of you who have been there before contemplating, your "1st big deal."

Sometimes they lose some money.