Your income isn't high enough for it to make sense as a rental and the closer you get to your residence limit the greater pressure you will have to sell it before losing your exclusion in whole or part. 500k right now can make $15k per year income with zero maintenance or tenant risks. 

It is also possible that either the folks in charge of the station, or the prosecutor have set a policy of not wanting to pursue non violent crimes, or even not paying attention to crimes against folks who are not local residents. 

Best advice to you would be to use that VA loan as many times as you can and buy primary residences for a year, rent them out and then buy something else with the VA!

Investment Info:Single-family residence other investment.

Investment Info:Single-family residence fix & flip investment.

For example, the FHA will all 100% financing on a purchase anywhere in the country, not just in the disaster area, for someone residing in a disaster area at the time of the disaster, whether they were a homeowner or renter.

To the nuts and bolt question of what defines occupancy, it is the place you reside and spend the majority of your time/nights.

Could be that the funds that bought the loans are liquidating, or it could be repositioning in preparation for future business.

You'll also want to make sure you have your full team ready so you can be prepared when the right deal comes along. 

HELOCng a personal residence could leave them homeless in the event they fail at this.