Is your $15k even enough of an emergency fund for you personally?  

For that reason (& other reasons like no one was meeting even online), I started Real Estate Rocks. 

However, even though we found it a bit odd that the husband didn’t have all the details right away, we decided to move forward with the application process.

I've read many of the BiggerPockets books like - House Hacking- Flipping- Estimating Rehabs- Multifamily Millionaire Book I and II- How to Invest in Real Estate with Low or No Money Down- Investing from a Distanceand even some outside of themand have been wanting to do something in Real Estate for awhile.

Does renting the home while deployed void the eligibility for exclusion of gain, even when the home was lived in/primary residence for 2 of the last 7?  

If you use a DSCR loan you could maximize the equity you could take out while still breaking even on the mortgage + taxes + insurance.

I don't want to step on any toes, but if you're not working with an agent, I'd be happy to help you, but even if you are,  I'd be happy to talk with you about the Redding area and answer any questions you might have, etc.

***EVEN IF YOU CASHFLOW IN REAL LIFE***Ready for the boatload of cherries on top?

Keep in mind that owning rental properties, even if it is a house hack, means operating a business and thus should be treated as one, respectively.

I live in New York and majority of the inventory on Long Island is too expensive for even renting.