Here are some “creative financing” strategies / tactics that increase your leveraging/buying power.  

Brendan, the VA loan can be a powerful tool in your investing career especially as you continue to PCS around the country.

I can see helping people who have unexpectedly severe losses, like those in western North Carolina, but no amount of hurricane damage anywhere in Florida can be deemed unexpectedly severe.   

Back when a similar regulation was introduced in another city I worked in, I remember a client who nearly had a deal derailed because of unexpected delays.

I have two friends who own rental properties and they are successful with their properties, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad twice along with Rental Property Investing and Power of Habit, I've been told by multiple people apart of the Baby Boomer and Generation X that they wish they invested in Real Estate at my age, I was a Resident Advisor at my University and I enjoyed that role so some of the skills are transferrable, and lastly this is the best time for me to take a risk.

More power to you. 

Another way to supercharge this strategy is to mix in the power of assumable loans! 

One card you should never use as it is only for emergencies that arise that were unexpected from the flip.You have three days to open as many cards as you want and it will hit your credit score only once.I also learned this from a real estate seminar I attended.

Don’t underestimate the power of community!

Building a reliable power team is crucial for smooth transactions.