I purchased a 4 unit in Dec 2021 in Pt Loma (Worth ~$2.5M then, now worth ~$3.4m). 

A vacant house across the street from one I just purchased was also for sale at 51k.

I'd have suggested a down payment assistance program for your first purchase.

Of course, it always depends on what your purchase price is and Dayton does have cheap homes! 

I was to purchase a house in NC, but due to some information that was not disclosed about the house, we decided not to buy it.I will be getting my due diligence  money back and asked for money back for inspections but seller refused.  

Bare Hugs was purchased in 2018 for $270,000.

Seasoning for ownership typically starts on the purchase date.

Why do you think purchase contracts are so long and have such small print?

What the IRS is concerned with is when you are doing a 1031 and want to purchase a property from a related party. 

Given your mobility for duty posts you can really ramp up your real estate portfolio while serving.Every time they got stationed somewhere they would purchase a property to live in using their VA and house hack.