It’s great to hear your perspective on appreciation versus cash flow—it’s something I’ll keep in mind as I refine my strategy.You mentioned local meetups in Northern New Jersey—do you (or anyone here) know of any good ones closer to Somerset or Middlesex counties?

If you are on cash accounting, yes you could do that.On the other hand, you are ignoring carry-forward losses. 

yes, but it's much more difficult. you're just not going to cash flow after you refinance - you might even be slightly negative. 

It will also allow you to pull some cash out if you have the equity and for tax purposes.You can have two VA loans at the same time but having two means that the second home may not qualify for 100%. 

Purchase price: $75,000 Cash invested: $85,000 Single family.

Purchase price: $415,000 Cash invested: $90,000 MY FIRST RENTAL PROPERTY !!

Plus Self storage is a heavy positive cash flow investment while Teak farms are negative cash flow so they offset.  

Judges also postpone sale dates for buyers with financing, so cash is likely not necessary to get the date moved.

I am looking for neighborhoods with positive appreciation and cash flow.

It's hard to harvest equity on these plays, unless you commit, long-term, towards very light leverage, as the only practical ways to benefit from the equity in your portfolio, if you plan to never sell it, only exchange it, for a lifetime, are to spend the cash flow, or cash out refi.