I love serving in the military but I would like to have a good back stop.

The good thing about this market is the demand for rentals has not stopped the last few years and only keeps going up. 

My first contractor did the juicy/profitable larger items in the scope of work and then stopped.

I never used it, paid off the property in full, but stopped paying the monthly maintenance fee in 2012. 

As for being "risky", aren't you already taking a big risk - by borrowing 100% of the purchase price of your home?

The bank will let me borrow money as long as I have my W2 job.

I understand that depending on the situation the VA loan may/may not be ideal, but I think borrowing against the TSP the payback rules are relaxed when it's for a primary residence (between 5 and 15 years for payback).

Yes, it's a large sum, but there was a previous all cash offer on the property and Kevin, while he is using a Mortgage, offered a higher Purchase Price and a higher amount for Earnest Money to be deposited on Contract.The Check for the Earnest Money on Contract was made out to the Seller's Attorney Mike as Escrowee, so I am assuming that the Earnest Money had to be deposited into the Escrow of the Seller's Attorney.Kevin then Applied for a Mortgage at a well known Bank.Title was completed and an Appraisal was ordered.Sometime around mid-June 2017, a few weeks later, the Seller's Step-Sister filed a Lien of Rescission to stop the Sale.When the Appraisal came back, the Lien of Rescission was discovered, the Mortgage Bank added the Lien as a condition to clear for closing.A Civil Case was filed against the Seller and the Case was suppose to take place around December 1st.Buyer's Attorney and Seller's Attorney agreed to postpone the original closing from 45 days after signing the Contract on June 13th to December 1st day, documented in email.The Case was then postponed to January 29th, 2018.Along the way, the Buyer's Attorney got sick and developed ALS.When January 29th, 2018 came, the Seller's Civil Case was again postponed to April 1st, 2018.The Mortgage Bank issued a statement that the Mortgage Contingency was no longer valid and has expired.Kevin then changed Attorneys.

I love serving in the military but I would like to have a good back stop.

You will never stop learning and growing.