May not be able to qualify at this time for conventional financing or the property needs work that they want to upgrade first.2.

@Brandt Thompson...assuming you're going conventional financing, and you're truly going to rent the property, just make sure you get a lease agreement signed and if you can't get a deposit, have a 1007/rent schedule done that will back up the lease, and you should be given 75% of the lease to offset the PITIA. 

I could do FHA or conventional on the next home but if I did sell, I'd have my entire VA entitlement to use on the next primary residence.

My plan is to utilize the 5% down payment available through conventional loans.I would essentially mega-commute for the first year or two, working about 10-day stretches and then having equal time off, using my PTO strategically to gain more time off.

We are seeing opportunities for positive cash flow with creative acquisitions, but if you are looking to purchase conventionally, it would be really tough to make it work with the average prices versus rents that we are seeing in South Florida.

I would if you have a lot of time on your hands now its a good idea to go back and get a w2 gig for active income to help you borrow money using conventional mortgages as opposed to using more expensive money like hard money or DSCR loans.

Fortunately, you have the option of a 5% conventional now for a small multi-family. 

Property 1: 4/3 LTRCurrent Value: $475kPurchase Price: $363kDown payment: $40k (30 year conventional)Interest Rate: 2.75%Remaining Balance: $294kMortgage payment: $2369AVG revenue: $2775Property 2: Duplex - 3/2 House Airbnb & Detached studio apt 12mo leaseCurrent Value: hopefully within $575k-$600kPurchase Price: $591k (appraised at $599k)Down payment: $30k (30 year FHA)Interest Rate: 6.125%Remaining Balance: $552kMortgage payment: $5041 (including $362 PIM)AVG monthly utilities: $385 (full year avg)AVG monthly revenue: $5261 (full year avg airbnb + $1650/month from apt)

For pros, he challenges conventional wisdom and explodes sacred cows by exposing hidden conflicts of interests and mis-alignments that many in the industry won’t admit to.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/short-term-rental-loans-a...Also - PS on the advice regarding getting a vacation home loan - if this is referrring to the conventional 2nd Home / Vacation Home Loan (10% Down Loan) - I'd be very careful here, these are not supposed to be for STR investment properties (you are required to rent it out no more than half the year, not utilize prop management, ec.) - which doesn't sound like your plans for this investment