House hacking our basement as our first investment, we have remodeled and redone our entire basement and now getting ready to rent out.

House Hacking using the VA loan to live on one side while renting the other is great.2.

The rent from the other units will allow your to purchase a more expensive property than you could on your own, which could help you build the value of your portfolio (and equity) faster. 

I filed for eviction and of course she hasn't paid rent dec and Jan.

Yes, about 82% of properties are matched to a person in DealMachine - you get their phone, email, age, birthday, income level, renting OR owning.

Rent it from them and re-rent it out until you own it (see link).

I have 1 rental for which I have been renting since 2018.

If you have some capital, income, and decent credit, buy a 4-5 bedroom house and rent bedrooms. 

Quote from @Brendan Doherty': I’ve read in books of people getting past having to live in the property they own so they can rent all units year one of ownership(living on the property with an rv).

You don't always have to incentivize a tenant with a discount to get the tenant to stay, nor keep rents stagnant, but it is good to be aware of the business impact with respect to cost too.