My journey here began with military orders to Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland.

As someone who has a knowledge of *one* market, I'm genuinely seeking advice on evaluating other markets.

Like you said, a real estate attorney would be a valuable person to talk to, but here's what I have: Considerations: short/long-term rentals, co-ownershipTo keep your favorable mortgage rate, you can consider a Joint Tenancy or Tenancy in Common agreement without refinancing.

Should we jointly or individually take additional loans to buy a multifamily this year?

You are going to have a lot of trouble finding financing options with a 2nd lien and to 100% make up a purchase price (i.e. 100% debt financed with no equity or down payment "skin in the game") as part of your payment.I'd recommend looking in the "Creative Financing" subforum if you want to explore potential ways of doing this but frankly it is really difficult to find a genuine "shortcut" that wont end badly for not investing any of your money at all.BRRRR Method remains IMO the best for this but you still have to put some of your own capital to use during the process

My father served in the Navy for 4 years - Can I do a joint loan with him and utilize the VA loan options? 

I do have money in my joint acct with my wife but she doesn’t want to touch it.

I've just done the work myself: get a judgment, file to have wages garnished, place liens on any property they may own (I've had some people come up as being on joint title on a property).Some people will sent up a payment plan as soon as the sheriff shows up to serve them with papers because they're so embarrassed!

Unless the seller/lender is added to title as a joint tenant, which would be downright stupid, the only other way they are “getting the property back” after the death of the buyer/borrower would be to foreclose and be the high bidder at the auction.

Not so dissimilar from most note joint ventures agreements.