I recommend starting local with your VA loan.

I'm based in the Rexburg area and am just getting started in REI.

Hard money stinks, but sometimes it's the best option and it can absolutely get your foot in the door when starting out.

Account Closed, our new Chief Product Officer, has already started to go to town bringing this site into the 21st century.

How does one start lending their own money to other RE investors? 

Unless someone is starting a cult, you probably won't even have 8 adults in a SFH anyways. 

I'm currently not in a position to jump on another project as I'm still working on one at the moment.

It will still be a period of time before rates start to come down further and it will take months before it is felt on the for sale market.

I have been investing for awhile but have only recently started picking up properties that I know will not cashflow because of the prices in the area I invest (Dallas/Fort Worth) and the higher rates.I am still picking them up because it will still pay down debt and provide me with depreciation that I can use to offset my flipping and lending income.

there is an advantage to being hands on when you start.