A better market would be dry arid regions like AZ, NV and parts of CA. 

[MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD REGIONAL PROVISION]: Buyer shall designate Closing Agent.

In terms of his investments, they have been focused on the downtown region, buying up older, but loaded with potential and character, downtown buildings. 

It's possible your loan officer is either unaware of the guidelines or his company has an overlay.As a lender who specializes in VA financing, I reach out to the VA Regional Loan Center of jurisdiction (based on what state the property is in) anytime I have a scenario like this, that way I have VA's position in writing to submit to my underwriters.Aside from the fact that both units are under lease for 10 more months, is there any other reason you could not occupy the home within 60 days?

I think the only region left in the US that fits this mold is the Midwest. 

The HELOC is not the same as a conventional loan so they don't have anything like mandatory escrow accounts.When you say non-owner occupied, if you can get a HELOC on investment property, and I know Regions Bank does this because I went through them to get mine and found they will do a HELOC on investment properties, then you would be paying the investment off with the equity via a HELOC.

The region's young population and growing economic opportunities contribute to high occupancy rates, typically ranging from 90% to 97% year-round.

The region's young population and growing economic opportunities contribute to high occupancy rates, typically ranging from 90% to 97% year-round.

That said, long-term the appreciation you get in the Puget Sound region is superior to many other markets, so assuming you find an excellent property management company that is able to screen tenants and only put in very well qualified, vetted occupants and you experience limited issues over the holding period, you'd likely come out ahead retaining the Mill Creek property if your financially able to do so and still buy wherever you are headed out of state.

I do know that some regions of the US are really popular on the BiggerPockets forum for rental investments, and Columbus seems to be one of them.