My handyman couldn’t even get paint today because the machine at Home Depot couldn’t mix it thanks to the CrowdStrike software update that caused a global tech outage.

But, again, if your LES shows an ETS date of less than 12 months your current income won't be usable, unless (a) you write a letter to certify that you will reenlist and also have a commander certify that you will be eligible, or (b) you use income from a new job that you'll start near the subject property before closing.

Considering your goal of house hacking a duplex, while FHA loans are common for first-timers, there are alternative financing options to explore:Conventional Loans: Need more credit and down payment, but offer flexibility. 203K Loans: Ideal for fixer-upper duplexes, bundling purchase and renovation costs.VA Loans: Great for vets—no down payment, competitive rates, and no mortgage insurance.Portfolio Loans: Private lenders, good for unconventional income or credit histories.Hard Money Loans: Quick, high-interest, good for investments or major renovations.With $30,000, mix it up—use it for a down payment, maybe pair with a conventional or FHA loan.

Drinking plenty of water and bringing along nuts/trail mix or a piece of fruit while out on the road has definitely been a plus in my experience.

It's a mix of things, takes trial and error along with time chatting/networking

I've had a mix of both. 

I'm not really a fan of mixing the two types of rentals in the same building.

Buy mix of BDCs, public debt, and private debt and relax.

An example of this would be mixing your personal money and LLC money in the same bank account.3.

I went on the county website, found the contact info for all the lot owners and started mailing out heartfelt letters describing why they should sell me their land.