Active Duty Looking to Start-out with Househack

[Timothy Backman]

I am currently deployed active duty in the Army and I am planning on leaving the military in the next two years. I have been researching, saving and planning to invest in rentals with a househack for my first purchase. I am specifically looking into buying a 4-plex for my first property around the $200k range.

I am looking for anyones input on how you would go about choosing a location to move to and starting out rental investing. Some areas I have been looking at are San Antonio TX, Louisville KY, Cleveland OH. I am not hooked on any one place seeing that I can move  anywhere once I transition out of the military. I am looking at areas that have a wide selection of multi-family homes. I want to have hands-on light renovation of my first place for some re-appraisal value. One concern I have is moving to a location expecting through research that there are good opportunities with MF homes and it ends up not being the case once I get there. Another concern I have is that even though I have a good chunk of money saved I may not qualify for a loan since I will be jobless for a time as I am transitioning. 

I appreciate any input as to what you would do in my shoes, thank you.