Personally I would not go above 70% and when your done building mode drop down to roughly 50%.

It is what I personally do and I help clients do.

I don't know, that's a personal preference.

Are there local hard money lenders that will actually talk to you or is it pretty hard to get a real person on the phone?

He might be a good person to connect with. 

You likely will max out before 10 though as the average person with average income will have difficulty qualifying after a few loans because of things like the DTI (debt to income ratios).

There's some connection you have to this person with money who is looking to invest it short term and collect an x% return. 

Doesn't seem to be a lot of options around here for that though3) Continuing to rent where we live, and buy a separate property to rent outI personally feel like having my brother to help out as a renter is a huge advantage.

You will be sued personally and everything in your personal name is unprotected.

Make sure your listing highlights proximity to the base, schools, and other conveniences.Lastly, a personal tip: When renting near a military base, be prepared for quick turnarounds.