Jennfer,How did your NW Houston CPA search play out? 

A VA loan is a good play, but it needs to be considered a residential property, unless someone understands more than me on the commercial side and knows a way to use a VA loan for a commercial property. 

You will likely have negative initial cash flow reducing this return, but typically the negative cash flow is short lived. 

Assuming you purchased in your IRA for cash as most do, then there's nothing to deduct or depreciate because the income is non-taxable inside the IRA already.

The cash on cash return is only meaningful when you evaluate it based on your long term plans.

Our current focus is for a family lakehouse / lifestyle play here in TN but would like to work my way into commercial properties, short-term rental facilities, business acquisitions to name a few.

Instead of “great location,” they say:Here's where your Low-Maintenance Marketing Plan comes into play👇🏾If you’re only getting standard 5-star reviews, it means your guests had a good stay—but they also have other options.

My question is, do I just not touch the first property, use the cash flow to reinvest and pay down the mortgage or save up for a downpayment down the road OR do I pull cash out of the first property to buy the next property?

Investors get stuck and cannot cash out because of tax complications.

A good attorney, RMLO, and servicing company play a big part of this. .