Coming from Deployment with the Army, looking for suggestions!

[Demetreious Walston]

Hi Bigger Pockets!

   I would first like introduce myself: My name is Demetreious Walston, I just turned 21 years old, I am in the Army Florida National Guard, go to school at the University of Florida, and I am new to investing, real estate, and this community. I have been doing a ton of reading and learning about the real estate investing world and I need to put my foot in. That being said, I am excited yet slightly nervous and asking for any suggestions or guidance the BP community could offer. 

  I am currently on deployment with the US army and plan on returning to the sates right before my next semester starts at The University of Florida in Gainesville. My plan of action is currently to get in touch with some real estate agents in the Gainesville area that can help me find a distressed property (hopefully close to the university), get a hard money loan to buy and rehab the property (using the 70% rule), refinance to pay off the hard money loan and then "house hack" with my 2 best friends until we all graduate. I have from now till August 20th to have the house ready for me and my friends to live in before the semester starts, or I will have no place to live haha!

  I am just curious on what you guys might think, any suggestions, and/ or contacts I could get in touch with. Thanks everyone, I'm excited to join this community!