VA Loans and Lenders - Washington D.C.

[Stefan Hasselblad]

I'm just beginning the process of arranging a VA loan to purchase a home/investment-property in Washington D.C. (or nearby). I'd like to get pre-qualified from a couple of lenders to see the max loan amount (and rehab amount) I can get.

My plan is to purchase a house with an in-law suite (or a basement with the roof height to convert to an in-law suite), live in the suite, and rent the top.  Or, if I somehow luck into the (very rare) duplex/triplex/quad in D.C., then I might go for that (although I'm not interested in doing a ton of property management).  

Another variable is that I've been in school for the last two years so I've earned very little money during that period (although I have no debt). I have a letter from my future employer detailing my future salary, but I'll need a lender who will look to the future rather than the past.  My credit score is excellent. 

Can anyone recommend any good national or local VA lenders? If not, how should I go about narrowing down a list of 4-5 lenders so I'm not wasting my time?