If you have never done this as a full time business I will throw caution to the wind it is not as easy or as profitable as online forums make it out to be, and if you need money for living this probably is not going to sustain your lifestyle for the first several years. 

You get the best of everything- cheap, tax free access to your equity, you get to keep your interest rate and you get the cash flow. 

Pre-internet, being a landlord wasn't easy, but it was straightforward (this is a gross oversimplification).

Maybe it’s cause they had it too easy.

Exit Strategy: How easy/difficult has it been to sell units in similar properties?

It’s easy to feel discouraged when the rewards aren’t immediate, but growth is happening beneath the surface.

It was a pretty easy process. 

Leather is very durable and easy to clean but more expensive.Depends on the property and your budget.Sleeper sofas give you more sleeping capacity.

I know the easy answer to this is "check with your CPA" but I'm still in the process of working to establish with a real estate specific CPA who better understands the nuances of these topics.

It sounds like you’re in a solid position with your skills, VA loan access, and local handyman expertise.