@Alex Liccione I'm currently stationed overseas as well, so congrats on looking to overcome that barrier vice using it as an excuse.

I was planning on looking for the typical cosmetic rehab (or *slightly* more work) target property, possibly from a wholesaler, but I'd like to know if that's a good idea for the first property, or if I should go turn-key.

The first thing I wanted to do was sign on the tenants to my companies lease agreement, as the one they were previously on looked like the owner straight downloaded it from a google image of a "lease agreement" search. 

I now have a duplex as well and am planning on looking to add a CPA for my 2020 taxes.

@Jennifer Day That’s where I plan on looking as well once I get started.

You can focus on looking like a business when you've become a business.

I just wrote this article for BP a week or two ago https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rei-101-start-investing-real-estate-2020Also, congrats on looking into this!

I like the DTC area with the pool and jacuzzi amenities but I doubt I would find an affordable house there since they will probably cost around the $410,000+ or above, based on looking at a real estate agent's portal fairly recently.  

I understand that at this point, I need a W2 job and steady income but then that makes it hard to actually get started on looking for a house and making improvements to one.

Start learning your markets that you want to focus on. Look