I’ve got excellent credit but am short on cash with just $30,000 in savings.

Primarily due to location (more than 30 minutes from my house and poor property management in the area) and slow economic growth.

Like many young investors, I picked up Rich Dad, Poor Dad around the time I left the Marine Corps and got very excited about the idea of investing in real estate, but I couldn't really see my path to get started.

If all of that checks, then I look for typical problem areas (sewer lagoons, poor markets, too many empty lots, etc). 

You made a series of poor Choices but you did make one good move in all this and that is you have a short term lease .

2) A local, small town bank/credit union?

Anyone in the Milwaukee, WI area know of a bank or credit union that will do a HELOC on a rental property (not owner-occupied)? 

Don't sell your home, just get a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).

Those goals are important, and you shouldn't put yourself into a BAD deal, just to get into a deal - but - I feel very much like I'd rather get in with relatively poor CCR, just so I can start the train moving down the tracks.  

and they might should go find a money partner and leave the poor land owner alone  LOL...