I talked about the same scenario (refinancing conventional from VA to reuse benefit) over here.

For my money, I think Home Depot has a slight advantage in availability of in-stock door sizes/styles (which you can check online to find your exact style/size/swing and see which locations have it in stock), while Menards has a wider range of trim options.LVP Flooring. 

Look at home listings, listen to talks, and join online chats to keep up-to-date and be flexible.Good luck!

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

But, excel is totally fine in the beginning.We use QuickBooks Online exclusively for all of our REI Clients.

Use books, podcasts, and online resources to learn and refine your strategy.

If rates DO come down in the future you can consider refinancing, but don't forget there are costs associated with that as well.

Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

The information that I found online shows that land in the immediate area is ranging in price from about $37,000 to $150,000.  

@Skyler HeimerTo find a property in Santa Monica, work with your agent, use online platforms, and consider different types.