Could use advice on my first purchase...it will be a multi-family

[Joey Hernandez]

Hi, thanks for reading my first post!  I hope I can be a useful contributor on Bigger Pockets.

I’m a veteran with $30k cash saved for investments with an 817 FICO score and just got pre-approved for a 3.875% / 4.0% APR zero down 30 yr VA loan up to $500k.  I'm comfortably living rent free with a good IT job salary in Bremerton WA, just outside of Seattle.

Debating if my first deal should be a MF house hack to make use of that owner occupied VA loan.

or

Get a conventional loan or private lender to maximize cash flow…with more freedom to look out of area for better deals.

Thanks, 

Joe