I look forward to continuing to read all of your insightful experiences and takeaways in the forums and hope one day I can build up enough experience to provide the same.  

Should we continue renting (4k per month) and invest our liquid cash elsewhere till the market turns?

If you are pleased with the services you received, you're more likely to use that agent again.This can be tough in a young REI career so I'd recommend getting an older agent, someone with a lot of experience and then you should also continue to ask questions on here to get multiple perspectives.

Another possible strategy is to refinance your old home with another loan to clear our your VA eligibility, continue renting it, purchase another home at current duty station with full VA eligibility +funding fee and repeat when you PCS again.

just my little company has built about 20 new builds there and prior to 2012 there was NO new construction.. or very little.But follow the jobs  follow the weather  and right to work states.. at its core that's shift is still going on and will continue FLA with NO state income tax will continue..

And they will have to continue to remove my ads EVERY DAY.Because I can guaran-dang-tee you I'm more intelligent, just as hardworking, and better at the people skills than the investors out there who are lacking in ethics or don't know how to build partnerships for the long-game.All of this to say, don't let trash get into your mind and detract you.

I would be paying down my mortgage as opposed to a apartment complex, make that first leap to owning property, have a place to live, and continue to rent out both bedrooms when I graduate.

I've completed the continuing ed classes in physical classrooms and online, and online just seemed so much more efficient.

The agent can continue to represent the Seller, and the Buyer would be unrepresented, similarly to how a FSBO represents themselves in a transaction with a Buyer who has a Realtor. 

This has been a tremendous help to my bottom line and I expect to be able to continue this with all my personal holdings.