Some of those being sales tactics, MLS access, network for investing, market data, insider industry partner networking, obviously extra income to supplement your USAF income, helping fellow vets/servicemembers and any buyers/sellers at that, and not having to pay an agent when you are accumulating properties as well. 

You could buy 10 rental OOS but income for those properties are peanuts compare to one succesful BRRR project in CA, but at least it's good for PAL deductions :)

I'm also a veteran 100% P&T so i have a steady income and plan on taking advantage of my veterans home loan benefits for this project if possible, especially if there is a construction option. 

Since commercial real estate is largely an income property driven industry, appraisers will heavily skew value towards the income approach.

I'm curious if the income from these rentals, listed on Schedule E, will be factored into my Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio.

It's always a good thing to have more properties earning you passive income and more properties to pull cash out in the future.

I then declined due to income and credit; which is still an area where we can decline.

LTCG, STCG, rent income, a little Sch.

In advance: know what credit score, income, and equity are needed before you purchase to be able to achieve this every five years.

It's a stretch but with stable income you'll have options to remodel what you can afford it.