This has provided us the means to save ~$4-5k per month.

Use a CRM to save everyone's contact info, set reminders for yourself to follow-up, create follow-up campaigns, etc.5.

If your student loans are only 3-5% interest, that's pretty good so I think it's okay to pay those off over time.It sounds like you're making good income with your current employer and there is room to grow, so I'd plan to stay with that job until you can pay your high interest loans off and save enough for a down payment for your first property.

I enjoy helping new investors and bigger pockets members find and use loopholes to save money.

I would love to "save" them all but this one was a gem due to proximity to the venues and base.  

I need to do some more research and potentially save some more money so I won't run into as many challenges. 

I would be comfortable to some degree as this would just be a saving plan of sorts.

I will be taking a residential loan from my TSP since by my calculations that would save me a lot of money on interest and give me good equity.

Refinancing both at the same time could save you money in the long run and streamline the process, as you'd only have to go through appraisals and closing costs once.HELOC vs.

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.