Pay your utilities out of this account, and after the month has ended, you can distribute your cash flow from this account to your reserve account and your personal checking account.

Our investing has picked up quite a bit since the beginning of the year as well.

In a short verse, I don't have the numbers :( but in general I just don't know if what I want to do in the long run which is BRRRR would be a good idea if I start with utilizing a VA LOAN for a duplex to begin with.  

If you want to be taken seriously I'd start saving for your first investment opportunity, maybe pick up OT or a second job to show you have skin in the game.

My advice would be to follow up with Vitaliy and pick his brain as much as he will allow.

Can you dig into a little more on the novation, why did the seller pick that strategy say over a cash offer?

End of that relationship came when owner called us and expected us to go pick up their guy, who's truck broke down, and drive him to the house - and didn't want to pay us anything for this!

Thanks in advance,Rookie You’re going to struggle to find cash flow anywhere in the dmv, you would really be buying for appreciation only, both for ease and some upside, I’d look at some condos in dc, definitely some risk, but you can pick up a condo at a price you would have paid a decade ago. 

Unless a different one would be better that you could suggest   If you are house hacking you can utilize 3-10% down. 20%+ is great to put down but not always possible.

.-- Or, what we do is offer the free rent AFTER & ONLY if they pay their first 3 months of rent on time to earn it.4) Lower the rent 5% every 2-4 weeks until activity picks up.5) Understand this is the worst time of year to find tenants.-- Starts picking back up end of February when this tenant pool starts getting their income tax refunds and aren't broke anymore.6) Section 8: where is the property being advertised?