My goals are purchasing single-family homes in lower cost areas ($250,000 maximum purchase price) and my priority is buy and hold.

In real life, it's slow-going and in my experience rents are lower than it seems like they should be.

Here is some info on that as for"skin in the game".Gift funds are acceptable as 100% down payment for loans <75% LTV/CLTV Gift funds are acceptable for loans >=75% LTV/CLTV; however, the underlying Borrower(s) must contribute at least5% of the transaction (lower of Purchase Price or Appraised Value) from their own fundso Example: A $500,000 purchase price where the LTV/CLTV is going to be 75% or higher would require the borrower to have a $25,000 of their own funds provided ($500,000 x .05% = $25,000)

Set the price high and let the market determine the rent, by lowering it if there is little to no interest.

Selling and dropping the equity into an index fund is a lower-maintenance option, but you’d be locking in your gains at a relatively stagnant point in the market.Given your low interest rate and the potential for rents to inch up, renting could be a reasonable play.

If I come in lower, the seller may not offer financing.

I am also considering the "assumable" VA loan option to lock in a lower interest rate.

Certainly a big hit means better opportunity because you can buy at a lower basis, but a big hit also takes time to work itself out.  

They do end up lowering your income.

The lower rates then meant that there could be some level of positive cash flow.