Read this in "Landlording" by Leigh Robinson:  

Lines of credit on your home or other rental property are another option not yet mentioned.

The membership also gives you discounted tenant screening services (credit score) and they offer a landlord training course called Rent it Right.  

Have great credit and have the money to put 20% down but what's the challenge in that.  

I would begin talking to a lot of your local banks and credit unions to see what they will allow.

When you refinanced the following year, did you run into any issues with having debt from your HELOC on your credit report?

@Jeff Kehl1/19622/Furnace/water heater 3/Cleveland Hts4/Our existing PM 5/Sorry,we are using a private lender.My bad.6/Most interior repair is minor stuff like repairing rodent damage,small mold and paint/flooring in select units.

Fire, mold, damage. 

My question is: if we redeem our personal credit card points for Lowe’s / home dept gift cards to go towards supplies/materials/cabinets etc, can we deduct that as an expense even though we used a gift card vs a credit card or cash?

That means you need to know what kind of financing you can get and what the terms will be. many investors hear about homeowner terms and thin they can get that because they have good credit.