Investing in a buy and hold while serving Active Duty

[Nick Lawler]

I am currently serving active duty in the Navy and am interested in getting started with big and hold real estate investing. However, I don't want to wait until I get out of the Navy to begin. I am interested in Single & multi-family properties to owner occupy at my current duty station with roommates, and then rent once I move on to the next duty station.

I am unsure of how to get started with the right financing process (VA loan, hard lender, heloc, etc.), finding a great property manager once I move to the opposite side of the country, and go about refinancing so I can purchase a property at my next duty station and repeat the process.

My biggest concerns are that I won't have time to attend to an issue at the property if I'm deployed or am unavailable to leave my next duty station to come back and deal with whatever problem arises. Also, I am concerned that not getting a great deal on a property or financing here could leave me with an undesirable debt to income ratio when I am at the next duty station.

If there is anyone that has past experience with this situation, or has worked with someone in my shoes and could provide guidance so I can get started on the right foot , I would appreciate it.