I come from Europe too, and I know it can be overwhelming when you look at the real estate market in a new country and with completely different building technics ( sticks instead of bricks), but is not as bad when you have the right team in place. 

Creative Freedom: You get to design and transform spaces, which can be personally fulfilling.The Bad: Where Flippers Lose Money⚠️ Underestimating Repair Costs: Surprise structural issues, contractor delays, and material price spikes can kill your budget.⚠️ Market Changes: A hot market today might cool down before you sell, which reduces the profit.⚠️ Financing Challenges: Hard money loans carry high interest rates that nibble into the bottom line.Unrealistic timelines: If you think you're going to be in and out in 60 days, you're sadly mistaken-most flips take longer than expected.Real Talk: Is Fix and Flip Still Worth It?

•The short-term rental market is competitive, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad investment.

Negative cash flow is not bad. 

In some cases, federal tax credits like those for low-income housing or economic development might also apply if the project aligns with certain goals.Instead of buying the land outright, developers often lease it from the tribe, which can reduce upfront costs and sometimes come with favorable lease terms.

Is it just a bad rule of thumb for an investment if you can't get positive cash flow for the first year or two?

While I wait for my work history, I want to build credit and save for a down payment.

Often in very bad ways.  

What’s the best way to do this to avoid any bad tax repercussions. 

For VA loans, here are some solid options:Veterans United (veteransunited.com)Navy Federal Credit Union (navyfederal.org)Caliber Home Loans (caliberhomeloans.com)USAA (usaa.com)Not sure if I can post a link here in the forum.