So I'm strongly considering adding a handful of these to my buy & hold portfolio.I understand that there's no "risk-free" method to acquiring these properties subto, but have any of you had success over the long-term acquiring properties with VA loans attached?

I do not have to do anything right now, I just need to learn, wait for the right opportunities, or create them - for example by trying to use subject to and take over someone else's payments who locked in a lower interest rate from a few years ago. 

I would just take into account that a lower down payment will mean a higher monthly payment so be sure to run the numbers conservatively in order to ensure your STR revenue is able to carry your monthly payment with this higher mortgage cost. 

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

I had to borrow the down payment form my parents because I was BROKE. 

The biggest factor is thoroughly review their credit score report especially on time payment record and score.

Still no payment.

Work on getting a down payment saved up while managing your townhomes.

If the loan was fully funded at closing and since then the loan is in an interest-only payment period, these numbers would equal. 

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.