You also can use bonus entitlement to buy another property using VA without refinancing out of the first one, or by refinancing to another VA loan, but if your plan is to build an empire, that's not the best move.With a Conventional investment property loan for a single family property, if you are not taking any cash out, you can do 80% LTV. 

I hope you win the gold, get a big endorsement deal and put the money into real estate to grow an empire! 

So, I’m 28 now and have been twiddling my thumbs for way too long and now I’m looking to start acquiring properties and build out my real estate empire.

I may go back in my 30s, but after I have set up the empire I desire first.

This article discusses what asset protection is, and explains the general progression of building your own asset protection empire.

OR do I just take my equity and buy an duplex in Inland Empire area?

Hey everyone,I am Real Estate Agent in the Inland Empire in California, specifically Riverside.

As a former industrial developer, we would have deals at 3-4% in Inland Empire, CA (LA market) and then 6-7% in other markets (PHX/SLC). 

Sounds like the kickstart of your empire.

Best of luck building your empire!