I work in their retirement plan services business, and the biggest regret I hear from folks in their 40s-60s is that they didn't start saving early on in retirement plans.

Ostensibly to network with other subto folks. 

I just need a little extra help with the next steps and figuring out all of the details needed to make it happen.I would like to close on a deal by the end of this year, using either my VA loan or an FHA loan to house hack.

The implications of taking money from a retirement account(if not Roth) is that the distribution will be considered income and potentially subject to a 10% penalty.In my opinion, real estate investments and securities within a retirement account are used towards your later years.So it doesn't matter whether it is in one bucket or the other.If you are subject to the 10% penalty, I would only take out a distribution if you strongly beleive your return from real estate will be several percentage points higher than what you can invest in with your IRA.For example, if your return within the IRA is about 8% and you can make 10% in real estate, I would consider doing the distribution because the extra return will pay off the penalty over a few years.Best of luck

So you don’t get to pocked all of the extra.

As for the move-in fee versus security deposit issue, many landlords prefer security deposits for better protection, despite the extra steps required in Illinois.

Those might make good rentals...but also there can be extra costs...see if they are in PIDs/PUDs or MUDs that add significant cost to the monthly payment...maybe $100-$200 extra a month.Also $2500 sounds high on rent to me for 1800sqft....I would think more like around $2000/month, but haven't looked in that area lately.I do like Forney....one issue is I don't think there are good demand drivers there. 

But, I talk to folks often looking to invest in Texas thinking it is a low tax state and are shocked by the property taxes.

My rental has a lot of extra space outside around the house to consider doing a ADU build and create additional rental income.  

Otherwise, look at side jobs you can do to earn extra money.