Hey @Benjamin Jones -  Fellow Japan-based investor here.  

That was the right move for us at the time, but let me tell you, boy oh boy does it hurt every time I realize i sold a 3 bed 2.5bath home in dublin schools that I bought for under $200K...its the one that got away and honestly will haunt me forever...or until i go back and get it again...but seriously find a way to keep that thing fo the long term especially with that rate. 

Or just strangers off the street you met at a REI group? 

here is a past link to answer your Quation?

The asking price was $799,999, but the numbers didn’t work at that price, so we came in lower at $770,000.

I have flipped new homes and townhomes but phased out raising a family and now am focused on utilizing my skills which are building, selling, expanding a circle of influence to focus my effort on the above.

Would that be, for example, if the PM says, "I manage a duplex for John Smith in Turlock," then I call John as a reference, ask John a few questions, and then ask John the address of his duplex so I can later look it up on the county website and verify if he is the owner?

I am sure you will find lots of help down that path here though. 

@Jerome Boudreaux what lenders probably won't tell you right now is the BIGGEST benefit of your VA loan is an assumption! 

The goal here would be to increase rental income.