I waited to start until I got back from my first deployment in 2003, but wish I had started in flight school.  

I would not wait to get started and have done several deployments while owning multiple properties.

Their selling may not mean anything is untoward just that their situation has changed and they want something new or to get out of what they have, they could have run into financial trouble, gotten tired of being owners or want to deploy their capital in a better market.

Being military people are always looking for places to live before and after deployments and after moving and so on, so finding a roommate to grab a room is easy, and I do have a girlfriend that will be living with me. 

While I overlap being an agent with my current livelihood, I will be able to build some capital to deploy when the time is right for me. 

I am currently deployed therefore I can't really buy.

They moved 5 miles away and the wife is staying in town during the deployment.

We used a VA loan, but after a deployment we put 30k on the principal.

I ask because a $1.1M property that's renting for $3,500 per month sounds like it's better off being sold so you can deploy that $600k+ of equity into better deals that will provide much better cash flow and returns.As far as the cash out refinance goes you will get 70-80% LTV depending on the lender and program you use.

Any place in the world you can make $ at investing, yes even in California, New York, Seattle, etc...it all comes down to your research as well as your what niche and strategy you chose to deploy.