U may also consider cash for keys so long as agreement is in writing.

For as long as I can remember, purchasing property or investing in a multi-family unit has been on my bucket list.

@Randall Ayers  It doesn't matter where the lender is located, as long as they can offer that type of loan in Colorado.

You can have more than one property owned with a VA loan as long as it is under your total allotment.

So that said, breaking even at first isn’t a HUGE deal for us, as long as it doesn’t suddenly become a liability. 

It also depends on the situation sometimes a HELOC is warranted for short term financial needs so long as you have a plan to get back in the same or better financial position afterwards and the "means," and "will," to carry out this financial or mortgage plan- HELOC's are typically full documentation qualifying loans so you'll need actual income to qualify whether it be from pension, insurance, rental's, etc that are all fully documented on taxes, W2's, 1099 forms, etc.

Granted that's apples and oranges, because the new homes are larger and all in the suburbs, but as long as you can buy an existing home for half the price per square foot than a new construction home I would be careful with expecting peak appreciation.

What I read on the Trec rules was that as long as both party knows that it is an assignable deal (wholesale) there is not a problem.

As long as you treat things with a level of fairness it will work out. 

That’s always going to win in the end as to coming out ahead as long as you make smart financial investments (such as maintaining control of your own investments, and making smart choices on properties that cash flow, etc).