With respect to the rental - if it is inhabitable, advertise it for rent before you do any repairs or maintenance.

I would prefer a quadplex but will settle for a single family for the right deal.I have about 8 yrs left for a full military retirement so my goal is to create a cash flow portfolio that will assist during my transition into the civilian work force.

It took a while to get established in the civilian world.

And I do have another Roth IRA I keep separate with no attachment to real estate as a means of staying diversified, and since I can no longer contribute to the TSP I needed my civilian pay to go somewhere. 

Of course, the condition may not be top notch, but all look inhabitable while you work on them. 

Both ideas are intended to help veterans get the physical, mental, and emotional support they need to help them return to civilian life as happy and productive contributing member of society. 

A property is only good as the tenants that inhabit it and the individuals that manage it.

I really don't have a civilian career, because I keep hopping on orders.

And no, do not put dad on the lease, he is a guarantor only and has no rights to inhabit the property.

Understood, for Buy and Hold rent would be $1,200-$1,400 if they had military members rent, if they stuck with civilians they would make $1,000-$1,150 in rent.