Read Landlording on Autopilot by Mike Butler to get started.

In some areas, we board up the 1st floor windows until we are about to start marketing the property.

I am hoping to start with a single property, but would be looking to scale upward steadily as need, finances, and opportunities permit.

@Luke Fruge you are in the right place to get started for sure!

If your goal is to simply take over a property that has a VA loan, you just start making the payments without bothering the lender. 

Yes to both.Did the construction start?

This past year they have started paying rent late to the point where the total accumulated time is about 3 months of back rent due.

Good luck, My wife and I are starting also, we also plan to do the BRRR, method,would love to talk more, maybe shares some do's and dont's that you may run across and we could share the same info to you. we are in the st louis area

Just to be clear, I would only charge them for lost rent, from the date they were to move in until the date someone else started paying rent.Now, would that hold up in court?

The problem is, all the ones I've seen, you have to keep your collateral funded or they start selling off your stake in order to keep it at a certain percent, so you have to keep an eye on it.