Dearborn or Westland will be the best mix of a decent area, but still may be able to find a few multi-units.

Also your primary has nothing to do with being approved for a residential/commercial (Mixed-use) loan. 

The Ridgefield area, when I passed through it, is pretty much brand new, mix of country and suburb.  

As a baseline, there is the empirically quasi-validated 4% rule that provides, roughly, that your asset (invested in a diversified mix of stock and bonds) can be depended on to provide 30 years of income if you withdraw 4% + an inflation factor. 

I don’t see a lot of mixed use on BP.

You'll need to talk to a professional or two on how to do a mixed taxed return when it comes time to sell.To qualify for active participation, you need to spend more than half your time on real estate. 

I really like Dalhousie, it is close to the train line and there is a good mix of older and newer houses so you can find deals and the neighborhood is desirable, plus it is significantly cheeper than the closer neighborhoods.

Sounds like you and your partner have a good mix of skills and the "get rich slow" mindset is the best way to approach real estate investment. 

I would also take a mix of medicare but private pay to optimize returns.

Lots of mixed advice in this thread.First, I'm almost positive that you have to live in the property with the VA loan as your primary residence for at least one year.