If you purchase with a VA loan and do not occupie the home and rent out the house before your 1 year requirement you will be committing mortgage fraud.

So, I'm also wondering if it will be harder for me to get "in" with a CRE company if I'm not really fully committed to it as a career. 

A guy committed suicide & his G/F moved in & squatted when we gave her the keys.

How long is your owner occupancy commitment for?

If that was my only commitment, I doubt I could 100% comply with all state and federal laws and rules. 

They usually require you have a lease in hand with forward commitment from a strong regional or national tenant.

I'm reading that lots of new investors throw caution to the wind and end up being committed to bad deals.

Are you stating that the buyer will give the seller a "down payment", then rehab the home and commit to pay the seller over acquired market value once the development or rehab is done and the property is sold. 

Any material changes in these documents -or any element of your personal financial situation- may require the lender to reassess your eligability for the loan for which you’ve applied.The lender renders an approval decision, and if approved, issues a loan commitment letter, stating its willingness to fund the mortgage provided certain conditions are met.

Renters may not be calculating or don't want to commit to a place, but investors around the country should be very acute about profit opportunities...