Also make sure you ask married women for maiden name, check that too.There's a Coast Guard base in Alameda, so this comes up with landlord clients in Oakland/Berkeley/Alameda/etc frequently. 

I've spent 12 years of my life in the Army National Guard, been all over the US and overseas.

Grace Porritt ,it is illegal to host an open house for a Realtor all by yourself without a license.Under the law you can do everything for the Realtor except talk to the visitors about the property or attempt to persuade anyone to buy that property or any other property.You can serve food and drinks,set up and take down the signs around the neighborhood,Greet guests and have them sign the registry,keep their children occupied while the Realtors work with the adults,and basically guard the front door while the Realtor walks through the property with the guests.You can never answer any questions whatsoever about the property.You basically have to say " the Realtor will be with you shortly" and "Thanks for visiting today".

I went conventional financing with my duplex but am in the Army National Guard so I'd like to use a VA loan at some point.

Get creative :) To get to the attorney you need to get past the bulldog that guards them... aka- the administrative staff that filters through their mail, etc.  

And might help guard against their tendency to try to sublet. 

I'm guessing you are in the Coast Guard based on your choices.

Hiring a security guard or doorman might be necessary but the cost has to trickle down to the tenants.

That 3.375% and 4.125% you see there are why lenders that offer 20% or 15% down for investment properties can very quickly get a reputation for having "high rates," causing many lenders to not even offer anything less than 25% down, basically just to guard their reputation even though this is straight from the top (Fannie Mae) and not lender-specific.

We tend to be easily caught off guard by our friends and family and a bad experience can poison that relationship.