It's not as easy to find as you might think in this college town where most multi family/4plex buildings are as big as possible on lots to maximize rental units.

And I have accounts with 5 local credit unions as well (Lines of Credit, checking/savings, business).Business accounts with Wells Fargo in addition to the others.Each has their place and benefit, I try to maximize each ones benefits, not just limit myself to one or two.  

If you are looking maximize on a minimal amount of income, you will want to use both types of contributions.Speak with your licensed tax advisor to determine the best formula in your situation.

I would like to maximize my VA loan and use it towards the purchase of a fourplex within 30min drive of the base....any advise would be great on this type of investment and the area and who I should talk to.......

The less organized you are at the beginning of the process, the less likely you will maximize your profit at its end. 4.

@Marvin Meng - that maxim about "If it's a real deal, you won't have trouble finding money" primarily applies to wholesalers who are trying to sell properties to investors by assigning the contract (it needs to be a real deal for the investor - if it is, someone will buy it) and to situations where you are partnering or syndicating (bringing on other investors as part owners) where you have an established track record and a good deal that people will be willing to buy into.Starting out to buy and hold or flip- you need your own capital OR you can borrow from 401k (cheapest) or credit cards (some are cheap or can be kept that way by rotating through various low interest deals) or you can borrow from family and friends and make it worth their while OR you can look for seller finance deals.  

I suggest you do what fits you best in order to succeed maximally.

The construction loan seems somewhat advantageous because it requires less cash investment and maximizes the ROI and leverage.

I would rent it by the room to maximize rents. after all expenses are accounted for, it would most likely cash flow around $500/month....perhaps as high as $750 Duplex #2 This duplex is  2,500 square feet with a total of 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.

You may find that there's a more advantageous business entity structure which will help you control your tax liability while maximizing your deductions.I'm not an attorney or accountant myself, so I apologize I can't provide more details / better information.