We manage 37 doors with that costs us a few dollars per door per month with no surcharge for ACH payments and we get next business day credit for those.  

It is to prepare you for the inevitable and create a Defensive position.It is calculated using Rent.Example: $1,000/month rent - set aside $50/month for CAPEX, $50/Maintenance & Repairs, and $50 for Vacancy.

If you have not performed rehab, you typically will need to have held the property for 6 months before borrowing based on the appraised value - otherwise, in those first 6 months you will be limited to 80% of your purchase price. 

That means we come out of pocket a VERY low amount and have the lowest monthly payment possible.  

VA loans are owner occupied loans so not moving in within 60 days really makes it an investor loan which is not the intent of the VA loan.Now if you move in and 1 month later you get orders, well, that is fine. 

If you cannot yet refinance due to LTV or lack of 6 months title seasoning you can explain in detail.

For example, I often see Buyers purchase property thinking there is a $1,000 deposit but then the tenant claims it was $2,000 because they paid the last month's rent.

That assumes 20% down and $400 a month for tax and insurance. 

We are closing on the sale of a condo we own at the end of the month. 

As a result, we need about 3.2k per month for mortgage + property taxes.