Couple vital issues you are missing:Reserve funds 12 to 24 months multiplied by all you debts plus the subject PITI fully amortized plus HOALender by lender are licensed in some states and not othersMinimum loan amounts apply lender by lender (they don't like small loans as hits HIGH Cost and HOEPA loan laws ceilings).They want a property ready to rent on day one.

My wife and I are both still active duty, and we're house hacking in San Diego right now - its a great way to use the VA loan! 

I'm also active duty military (Navy) and I do real estate investing on the side.

My husband is active duty Navy!

Has anyone taken a deep dive into the neighborhood statistics report recently published by the Baltimore  Neighborhoods Indicator  Alliance. 2015 data and some nice  interactive  charts you can use to compare neighbor...

While it is a vital non-negotiable for an investment to make sense, it never amounths to much in terms of wealth.

Hi Carl,Apparently the surface finish used and the wood beneath were not up the harder use that a rental will get, (as opposed to homeowners own home lovingly cared for).For instance Beech is a lot harder than pine, and would probably take a very heavy animal to dent it by walking on it.Also the topcoats have different levels of hardness, some of the more noxious ones are said to be harder to scratch.You may have (or may not have) tried to use a passenger vehicle where more of a heavy duty truck was needed, making the passenger vehicle wear more. 

Studying market trends, underwriting, demographics, job growth, and economics are vital to provide value for the investors.

Without knowing the legal aspect of the loss (ie. could you be partially liable, does the contractor have duty to check the system before leaving it running, did you know of the problem with the third floor radiator, etc.).  

I'm trying to build a network, find connections, and mentors in the DMV area to begin my real estate journey.A little backstory, I'm active duty stationed in the DMV area (Bethesda), living in Bowie, MD.