Even though you have a VA loan, you still WANT good credit.  

Personally that is what I wanted, an active mentor. 

Financing might be a challenge.I would recommend consulting with a attorney, loan officer, and CPA to discuss your specific situation and determine the best course of action. 

For funding, explore options like FHA loans, personal savings, or creative financing, and focus on New Jersey markets that align with your goals, such as Newark for rentals or commuter towns for house hacking.

Hard money and private investing are both ways to finance flips, but they work a little differently.Hard money loans are typically from companies or private lenders that specialize in short-term, high-interest loans.

I see little benefit in the FHA as an option as long as the 5% conventional loans are available now.  

If the IRS has a Form 1098, they assume that the person listed on the form made the payments, and they move on. 

Prioritize deals that offer steady long-term returns over ones that seem too good to be true.DSCR Loans for Growth:Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans can be a game-changer for investors who want to scale.

However, you can get loans that are based on the performance of the rental and not your personal income and debt.

Business loans typically won't let you purchase a property if you read the fine print.