My goal is to get into buy and hold investing.I'm considering becoming a licensed agent as I see that as being a possible advantage down the road, is this a good idea?

FHA insurance premium is high so price that into your offer but down payment is only 3.5% and the loan is usually assumable down the road to a qualified borrower.

If you're not living there, you're probably looking at 20% down for a non-owner occupied rental property.When I run my numbers, I try to be as conservative as possible, ie: I want my expenses to appear high on paper, so when rubber meets the road, the actual expenses come in lower than my estimates, meaning more cash stays in my bank account.From the gross, I usually take 10% for vacancy, 10% for repair reserve and 10% for management.

Before you go too far down this road, have you been pre-approved by a lender for this purchase price?

Initialy this will all just go to me to contact the correct person but down the road I would like to make it so that the tenant selects what type of repair is needed, tells the issue and then when they submit the repair request a WO goes to the correct repair person, ie the plumber, electrician, handyman, me ect. 

if you decide to go with another property I'm a wholesaler in norfolk and other cities in hampton roads I would be more than happy to send you some deals I have under contract.Shoot me an email anytime. 

Maybe we can even possibly do some deals down the road.

I would definitely buy locally if I'm moved somewhere the numbers work down the road, but until then I'm happy buying where they do!

I will pull to the side of the road to answer a call if I have to.

This may not be as effective as a multiplex and washing out your increased debt to income a few years down the road when you go to purchase another property, but different banks/brokers look at roommate income differently, I think you'd definitely have to claim it, but you'd have to do your own due diligence on that - I'd be willing to assist as this is something I am interested in as well.Another strategy is to do the same thing but use short-term rentals (airbnb, vrbo, etc.) to supplement your income as needed.