Should I join the military in order to get a start in REI?

[Thomas Clark]

Hey guys, I need your input.

I am a 30 yr. old local government employee who wants to be a real estate investor. My strategy is to buy a multi-family home (duplex) live in one end and rent out the other. However, not only do I have no down payment, but between student loans and my car note, it will be six years before I’m able to START saving a down payment.

However, there is hope. If I enlist in either the reserves/guard then after 6 years, I will have VA eligibility and could qualify for a mortgage without a down payment. Right now, the military is looking like my only option if I intend on owning a home or even being a real estate investor by 40 .

My questions:

• Is my logic sound (using the VA loan to qualify for a no downpayment mortgage on a multifamily duplex)?
• To your knowledge as a property owner/investor/vetera/or person offering advice, is the VA loan worth a 6 year contract (1 weekend a month).
• Are there other alternatives I’m not thinking of? (I know USDA offers now down payment loans but those are on homes in rural areas, so essentially I would scramble for renters, and two I would have a hard time selling the property)? 

Thanks for you advice!