Wishing you luck as you learn and grow in this industry!

Any recommendations for free tools to do market research?

For a select few, this can be true, but wholesaling is much harder to get off the ground.

This is the reason homes are so much cheaper than cost to build.

Would that lower our tax liability from other income we receive or no because this is purely RE and not an operating business?

Hope this helps!

Now here is some advice many will disagree with me on but I firmly committed to this:  Most people that use a VA loan shouldn't.  

My buddy learned a lot from this club and was able to acquire (3) SFRs doing it part-time while working full-time at a car dealership.

Is this a good way to get into real estate investing?

Check out this podcast from BP, with Dave Meyer and Chris Clothier from Nov.we work with clients all the time in your situation and can help strategize your portfolio to reach your 10-15 year goals!