If you are trying to come up with a way to finagle the occupancy requirements while using an amazing loan (that you earned based on your service) like a VA, I would say you are starting off on the wrong foot.

I understand the policy is to email permitting for updates but after 13 months of permits, 19 months after I sent in $36,000,  I think I've earned another quick phone call.  

This account is also a savings account so I’m earning interest on it.

So, in theory one could get a 2:1 leverage, earning the rewards on $2 for every $1 capital spent out of pocket.     

Seems like a good option is STR during peak season and MTR in other times of year.

Dont spend your hard earned money that should be going to buy assets for a class..

Personally, I'm not interested in owning anything that doesn't cash flow at least $500 per month because there's just too many things that can go wrong in REI and I want the properties to earn their keep both in appreciation and in cash flow.

This brings me to now, I've taken this approach and have used my own money in lending, but am also bringing in friends and family to take part in these transactions so they can earn way better returns than with CD's.

Can you invest that money that would be used to pay it off in places that earn more than 7%? 

Do you want to earn x thousand a month?