So I think the pricier markets something like Reno, NV (no bias haha) where there is inventory that needs a house hacker but we can still see the margin and exit and realize that hard work sweat equity. 

We have been proposed a deal where we would renovate the sellers duplex from a 2 to a 4 and while doing that, our sweat equity would earn our down payment To purchase the property through them.

FX, Crypto, Flipping Houses, Sub2, Gold and Silver, Rare Earth Metals, Day Trading, Bernie Madoff, Vending Machines, Car Washes, Amway, any MLM.....whatever the dream of the day is.In all of them, you can make money, you can get rich, but almost always it takes a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, tears, missed holidays, working on weekends, money, risk, stress.

I’m not interested in being a passive investor and relying on someone else for the sweat equity.

Not sweating the small stuff and focusing on the big picture and long term really makes things easier.

Then rinse and repeat the process until you are out of VA eligibility and refi the first property into a conventional mortgage.The key here is that you need to add that sweat equity to the properties, providing a cushion for market fluctuations and increasing the rental potential for each home.

I am targeting raw (or unimproved land) to take advantage of sweat equity that I intend to put into it.

I would love to work with someone in the industry that would be willing to provide an educational experience in exchange for sweat equity.

I wouldn't sweat it for ten months.

You can get into a Joint Venture (JV) where you bring the deal and sweat equity, and your partner brings the financing.