You might be able to get away with shopping and nickel and diming for a few loans, but once you start to scale, you will see how valuable having a lending partnership with someone that is well-versed in all mortgage products is. 

I am a veteran as well.

It is very competitive but if you utilize good resources and think smart you can do really well!!

@Shaun OrtizThe BRRRR is alive and well.

You will be obligated to modify your home insurance once you leave, regardless of whether you self-manage or not and this would apply to Scenario 2 as well - for any property you don't occupy yourself.3. 

It is easy to provide well-intended 'bad' advice.My questions to you would be... 1.

After a Valentines purchase as well as a couple others, I was able to convince him this was a good move.

And you can be a landlord that gets a very poor return because they haven't utilized their space well by changing the layout.

I ended up signing with them as well - 3 months in to the lease so far and it's going well.

@Hector Lewis - The decision ultimately depends on your current cash reserves relative to your financial needs, as well as your willingness to reinvest for potential appreciation.