Are there permits and special licensing for STRs in Indianapolis?

A skilled experienced person specializing in investment real estate will have no problem answering these, and very possibly already has some FAQ with much of this.

My spouse is the only one with an income and he’s military.

I am a Realtor in Charlotte, NC and I specialize in working with Investors. 

I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

If you were in the military, you can use a VA loan and put 0% down.

My cousin rented out his primary in Springfield MA, he moved across the country due to being in the military.

For instance I had a special case where I billed the tenant an extra expense monthly on top of the automated rent collection, so I add it as an expense and it would automatically email them and notify me when it was late of course.

Open to out of state investing - consider buying near some of the larger military bases and take advantage of military personnel utilizing their housing allotment to pay rent. 

Hi Everyone,I recently separated from the military and was planning to use my VA home loan to start my investment journey.