We owned a condo in San Diego, CA when I was in the Marine Corps.

Erie will do builders risk - IIRC it is a commercial marine type policy and not straight homeowners.

I joined the Marines and was an F-18 Electrician for four years before coming back to CT and getting a BS in Electronics Technology.

Perhaps one of these will work for you: CALIFORNIA: Bank of Southern California, Bank of West (BNP Paribas), Cal Coast Credit Union, East West Bank, up to 60% LTV with "no docs” San Fran, First Republic, Fremont Bank, Golden1, HSBC, Quorum FCU, Silvergate Bank, Umpqua, Bank of Marin.

When I was working for a fortune 200 company selling very sophisticated computers to Hanford, Boeing and the military I had a co-worker who was a reserve Marine officer.

I am a active duty Marine, but my brother is a contractor and mother is the property manager; so it has turned into a family business. 

To use California examples, simply because that's what I'm familiar with, these are your SFRs in the nice areas of San Jose, anywhere in Piedmont, nicer areas of Marin County, ritzy Los Angeles places they make Reality TV shows about, you get the idea.

I'm currently in Japan (Marine Corps Officer) till September, where I will be relocating to Beaufort, SC. 

I am an active duty Marine station in California.

I am retiring from the Marine Corps this summer and Real Estate Investing is my next calling.