I am at the range often and own a S&W M&P 9C and also an AR-15 with a slide-fire stock.

We subsequently refinanced the property to take advantage of more favorable interest rates and secured a friendly first tenant (a family member actually) to rent the unit as an initial placeholder.

In previous years, October marked the top for Inventory. 2020 sees the top in April and then slowly slides down throughout the year. 

Also, the less you put down on one deal, the quicker you can move on subsequent deals.2) If you put a fridge/washer/dryer/etc in the home, tell the tenant that you have (insert appliance) that you plan to put in the unit if they want to use it, or you can take (insert appliance) out if the tenant doesn't want it.

Once you find some properties you "like" look up owner info and send them handwritten letters (tons of examples on BP).I sent 2 letters to the owner of my first property but it ended up getting listed on Hubzu, foreclosure auction which I subsequently won.

Subsequently, you are really screwing this person over in my opinion.

Short sales takes lots of time to close, let alone get approve by the lender.They will all insist on owner occupancy for some time before allowing a subsequent sale.

Do you recommend just trying to slide under the radar?

I've (we've) seen this game before. 2000-01 (tech crash and the subsequent RE crash in places like RTP) then again several years later pre-GR.

VA does not work if you do not intend to and subsequently occupy the property as a primary residence.