My partner and I bought a home in South Florida end of 2021 with the intent of doing a small Reno and then airbnb/vrbo and then blocking out the dates we wanted to use the property.  

I think a lot of the midwest cities will capitalize on that in the coming years with the housing affordability issues the country as a whole has been having.

If you are able to actively use the funds I would say start a real estate marketing company with it. 

Your VA loan will be crucial to your real estate investing growth, especially since it affords you the potential opportunity to own more than one property, depending on your overall allotment.For active military personnel, that conundrum of where to invest and where you will end up is always part of the issue that sometimes causes analysis paralysis so it's great you have one in VA Beach already.

Yep, been doing it full time since 2018ish.

With how much equity you have in your primary if it was me I would think about doing a cash out refinance for the whole thing as rates would be lower.

Quote from @Eric Gerakos: My wife and I buy many “fractional” notes where we live in California.

Quote from @Nicholas Goerss: Hello all,I am getting ready to start looking at lender for my second conventional mortgage to buy my second property.

Also CA requires you to be licensed to originate DSCR and Hard Money Loans (I see on your bio you service CA), and there are many other states that are starting to follow pursuit.

I will add my anecdotes: flipping has been good to me and my family, but we do it one the side, when we find a good deal.