These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

I’m just getting things started and want to get into ‘buy and hold’ properties to bring in some additional cash flow.My wife and I have a decent amount of funds set aside, but I was wondering if it makes sense to open a HELOC on our primary residence and utilize some of those funds as well for a down payment.

I just got a loan on a 55k property with 20% down, our income is already very complicated with self employed income, rentals etc.

You can list your unit on there, as well as do background and credit checks and collect rent.In addition to asking a local realtor for the rental rates, you can look at the rents of similar properties in the area, which you can find on places like Zillow and Apartments.com

Additionally I invest purely for cashflow.

What is relatively new is the “mortgage stress test” where banks shall add an additional 2% on the top of the landing rate to make sure people can truly afford it.

In addition to what's been said above, the invoice should clearly state the address where the work was done and your company's name.

We were at a loss for how to get cash to purchase additional property, and are considering taking out a mortgage on the duplex.

Example: my employer contributes 2k while matching me on 1k every month.

Example:  100 years ago agriculture employed 85-90% of all Americans.