My question is, are there any best practices when using a VA loan as an investor to maximize is usage. 

Just throwing numbers out there from a previous find, but there are a ton of places you can borrower the money from without needing to show personal income that would allow your savings to really stretch, and maximize your passive-income potential.

Another option would be to work part time at both places to maximize the experience/money intake.I COULD ask for a raise but I need to be diplomatic about it, my situation is an odd one where I'm needing to take 2 week off every 4-5 months to visit my SO which is an absoluite hinderance to growth within the company I'm at right now while at my previous job, they are more understanding about my situation and needing to take time off.

The difference in equity is a lot to you, but depending on how the capital structure of the lender looks, it's just not worth the extra work to maximize this deal.That said, why bother using commercial at all?

I think doing airbnb on a unit or two and long term in the rest would be a great way to maximize profit and stability.

Unless you need the cash-flow to supplement your living standards, try to keep it slightly negative to maximize your portfolio.   

One way to maximize your gains though is to use credit cards to pay expenses like rehab supplies etc and then pay them off soon. 

It is also important to note that there are at least three different ways to calculate the spread of the deductions over the first five years, which allows you to customize the accelerated depreciation deductions to custom fit your tax needs, and maximize your benefits.However, if you do not take advantage of bonus depreciation upon the first year of filing tax returns, you will lose the opportunity.

I have a well thought out business plan, systems ready to go and a schedule planned to maximize lead gen at a minimal cost.

We maximize our rents based on what the market will bear.