If I would have bought a sustained portfolio with multiple units rather than starting with a single purchase I truly believe I would have lost a lot of money while my systems flailed rapidly attempting to catch up. 

I started with a 17dll course on facebook for women than then hustle hard to sell me a 10k + mentorship.

More of a general trend, when we started we asked the same question. how low can I get it?

I would start at paperstac and Brett Burky and Co. 

Lenders or investors who have short lock up periods but have years of experience feeding their business with new capital would give me more comfort but anyone who is just starting and is promising a rate of return or return of capital in a set period of time would be alarming because they very well could be reliant on fresh capital to make good on that promise and that usually ends poorly.

If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general.

You have an excellent jump start- the VA loan is such an amazing tool to get the ball rolling.

I plan on starting out next year with a small plug and play solution to have minimum risk.

I think that areas on the outskirts of desirable cities where many people are moving (ie: Charleston) have great long term potential, as eventually people start to rent right outside the downtown area when prices rise. 

Engage an investor-focused realtor/broker in your preferred market (this is not a residential realtor) and start 'tire kicking' the market and properties that fit your criteria.