Should I save house hack cash flow or pay off house for #2?

[Scott Diller]

I am in the process of buying my first home with my VA loan. I will be renting every bedroom to friends and making roughly $1000 a month cash flow. I have W2 income I can live on and also save extra money with.

I plan to buy another house hack in 1 year and move into that house. Probably will do this for many years to come with VA and FHA loans.

Should I save the cash flow in my savings account or use it to pay down my mortgage and then take it out later? My goal is to accumulate as many rental properties as I can.