A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You should also consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

If you elect to use a VA loan, that typically means you don't plan to put any money down.

@Pixel Rogue everyone has different future plans - many though haven't thought that far ahead!

Now, my accounts are managed by Inspira Financial Trust. 

Fine-tuning your savings, building a reserve fund, and running detailed ROI projections will help solidify your plan for long-term success.Good luck!

The question is mostly a personal financial planning question and it depends on your preference and what balance of risk and access you'd like and would be comfortable with.

@Drake BackmanBigger Pockets is a great place to find a tax strategist specializing in real estate taxation.A good real estate tax strategist can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding a tax  strategist specializing in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.Consider working with your tax strategist remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a tax strategist willing to work with you throughout the year.

The 1% rule is best only used as a quick and dirty evaluation used to pick which property you plan on running additonal calculations on.

& how you become financially free is by letting whoever your renting to (I'm guessing that was a step also?)

Building a strong financial plan, researching markets, assembling a reliable team, and having an exit strategy are essential steps to success.Good luck!