I am planning on getting into a deal with 0% down VA loan which will save me some upfront capital and can be used for damages and such.

you may find it beneficial to avoid paying lender fees over and over again, on 3 properties though if you go with a lender that doesn't charge a ton of junk fees then you'd save doing it separately. 

The build cost would be a little higher because i would use foam in the exterior walls and also use insulation in the interior walls for energy saving and sound dampining.

By securing favorable terms upfront, I aim to maximize my ROI when selling within a 3-5 year window.I believe that connecting with like-minded investors is key to continued growth and success in this industry.

You don't get to keep that income tax free...If you have to lie and cheat to get the property to work for you, I would just pass on it...you're starting off on a bad foot and will just lose the money you save later...And like @Jonathan Greene said - how did they get a COO without a permit?

Quote from @Rajagopalarao Paidi: Is there anyway to minimize or avoid agent costs, I don't have much scope for profit if I pay agent costs, what options typically one has Do it FSBO if you want to save them and then hire a TC or company to do the work...

You take a short class 30 minutes over the phone and once you finish this process you typically can save around 1% off your rate!

So are you really saving anything?

I follow a program that teaches how to maximize points and buy discount travel.

There are exceptions - some properties are set up such that installing a few electric baseboard heaters might be possible to save on the gas bill - but i would still just shy away if not metered separately at the outset.  10) do shop for a lender and compare (usually pretty standard but there can be some fluctuation) - dont fall for the ones that sound too good to be true - there are gimmicks out there - big bank or reputable broker should do you fine.