And you never know the state of mind of these people so it's important to keep your wits and be smart to avoid bigger problems.

Is this not a smart approach?

I would look at turning it into a gas fire place with crush glass.  

So many smart professional people coming together in one place.I've been interested in real estate and business investing for a long time. 

If you're looking to hold multiple mortgages in the future he's smart and strategic.Definitely set up an appointment to discuss your needs even if you've already met with other specialists or brokers.Cheers,T :)

Something to keep in mind with STR, that's tied to why REI is a smart game to play - control is the name of the game.You want to control the guests and rates (vet them in hopes of avoiding property damage, set rates to attract those willing to pay more for quality)You want to control the costs (furnishings, consumables, cleaning/repair/plumbing/electrical)You want to control the property (choice of property, location, financing terms, well or city water, septic or city sewer, etc)This is all going to be very hard to do, if not impossible, if you don't OWN THE PROPERTY. 

@Ricardo Kendrick I think you are being smart here.

We all know you guys are smart about your investing but why belittle someone else because her ideas don't fit your mold? 

I still think the VA loan is something to take advantage of but signs do show that the SD market is slowing down and SD is a cyclical market historically, meaning what goes up will come down. ultimately, if you are buying for the long run and plan to keep this place for 20+ years then don't worry about cycles, just buy smart. 

I guess my question is would it be smart to put all my extra income and a good portion of my own income into the mortgage and just pay it off in 3 years or should I look at other investments.