I'm expanding my rental portfolio using my own money...rather than the VA.

I think they contain solid information and will help lay a good foundation as a beginner (Haha, I'm completely new to real estate as well, btw)I'm also going to be reading the following books, and hopefully I can finish all by the end of this month:1) The ABCs of Property Management2) The Advanced Guide to Real Estate Investing3) Long-Distance Real Estate Investing How to Buy, Rehab, and Manage Out-of-State Rental Properties (this might be the most important one to me personally)4) The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money DownIn addition to reading, I'm consuming crazy amounts of youtube videos, and I'recommend you do this as well.

or scammed them on their application fee (like we're going to make a ton of money off those).

You will get a higher appraisal (more money out on a refi) and have better appreciation and an easier path to a sale when that time comes.Very exciting stuff! 

I also advertise before someone moves out to get a new tenant before the current one leaves. 100% occupancy on a LTR is very common for me.No idea on a MTR.100% occupancy sounds great, but for a bigger portfolio or apartment complex, it usually means you're leaving money on the table.Here’s an extreme example: I could rent out 100 units at $500 a month and make $50,000.

They were a hard money / private mortgage lender out of Las Vegas doing about $30 million annually.

The perceived value may be more, because you know an STR was run there and making money, but a lender wont value it more.While I agree a lender probably won’t value it more, an investor interested in running it as a STR will pay more.  

I do pretty much like more SD than SA, but as you asked, the money that I have to invest it aint that much, goes between 30-40K to start and will be definitely for long term, as I said, I´m a beginner in this business in the US, as commons says I´m at the baby steps stage right now.

You can also do this on a refinance.Else, you can find private money, take out a HELOC if you have a lot of equity, go hard money and then refinance after, or see if your preferred builder offers financing.

It's a great way to increase your net worth and these loans can also be used to pull cash out of a property as it appreciates allowing you to reinvest money into new deals.Happy to connect to discuss further.