New member! Questions on running the numbers

[Chance Schrettenbrunner]

Hello bigger pockets! 

My name is Chance, and I am brand new to the real estate sphere. I have been working hard the last few years to get in the game. I became a truck driver, lived in my truck, and got debt free. I pretty much own nothing, and have no bills, but right now I have $12,000 saved, my goal is to have $20,000 saved by the summer. In the next 6-12 months, I am wanting to buy a home with a VA home loan in either central FL or central Indiana. Once I buy this, I want to leave trucking (use to income to qualify for the loan) and become a real estate agent possinly. I am wanting to house hack it. I have great credit (above 750) so all the pieces seem to be in place. I heard some advice that I should be running numbers every day. Is there a resource here on exacltly HOW to run the numbers? Also, where should I be looking at real estate? Is a site like Zillow going to be sufficient? This is my biggest step so far towards owning my first property, Thank you, and I am very excited to get involved in the BiggerPockets community. (More than just reading the books and listening to podcasts :) )