I fee very good about renting it out and bearing the repair costs as opposed to buying an unknown.

Your best bet is to read posts and create a short-list of names you think will be able to add value.If you are looking for a local professional, @Steven Hamilton II is in the Chicago metro.

I'm searching for my first primary residence in the city of Chicago.

My friend  refi at 5% late last year in Chicago.

I am an agent in the northwest suburbs of Chicago if that info is relevant.

If it really hits the fan for you then you can always file a a disaster relief fund App or apply through Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund.As far as needing cash for college do you already have a SallyMae student loan? 

I own 2 cabins in Big Bear and manage 15 others where restrictions are pretty easy- but I'm looking to branch out.

@Steen H Chery - I dont know of any specific meetups in Palentine, but I know the Chicago REIA has meetups in Schaumburg and @Joe Mueller has a great meetup in Algonquin.  

I hold a 30y conventional mortgage and 100k in checking account.i have been going through a lot about velocity banking these days and trying to understand it conceptually.Would it make moresense to park 100k in HELOC instead of non interest bearing checking account?

Some of the folks I'm working with through BP have recommended local lenders, but I'd love to get pre-approved by a lender that can operate in any of my markets (Cleveland, Capital region/NY, Syracuse, Chicago, Philadelphia).