This service allows tenants to pay cash at 7-11 and other locations (I believe Family Dollar and Ace Cash Express are others). 

@evan @Evan Ventura hopefully it was not put there to cover something up

It seems that Southern California and the Ventura County market is hard to get into as a first time investor but I am still trying! 

@Mindy JensenI just took a CE class with two attorneys that own a large Title Company in my town.

@Rigo Ventura there are options to buy "pre-habbed" with a company and refi on the back end to help recoup your costs.

I lived in my home in San Diego from June 2010 to Oct 2013 and Moved to Ventura Ca. (180 miles north) on Active Duty Orders.

@Rigo Ventura I'd be happy to discuss further if you'd like. 

Had ALL State, but changed to Farmers and when I had a tenant caused fire, they were just ACES in expediting the claim.

I'm definitely leaning more towards the VA option, I just want to see if any of you have good reasons for or against either option.Ryan Conventional pricing is around mid 4's to higher 4's while VA pricing in the lower 4.00's but if you price the VA to be on "par," with conventional meaning the VA loan with no VAFF (VA funding fee 2.15 - 3.30%) then you'd have a similar rate to the conventional loan apples to apples pricing wise.The one advantage you had mentioned is that the scenario above wouldnt be  apples to apples when it comes to down payment because the VA loan would have 0% down while the conventional loan you could have as low as 3-5% down (with PMI paid monthly or within rate or split premium).Also, you only have VA entitlement (if not already tied up else where) for usually one property or home so by using conventional you can keep an ace in the back pocket or conversely you could do a low down conventional low with no monthly MI and keep the VA in the back pocket for emergencies or future planning (in case you plan to move out to get another primary shortly after 1 year again).VA loan also has a lot of YSP or yield spread premium so you can do no down and no closing cost pretty easily or use the credits towards paying off the VAFF or taxes/interest/insurance etc while the conventional loan does not nearly have as much YSP or lender credit to offer so your ability to strategically plan with your rate is not as readily available as VA.Generally, I'd say VA all the way 90% of the time but there are reasons to keep it available.

I went thru the workbooks/Exam Cram and aced it already (haven't taken the course yet) because it all relates to my previous job.