Great neighborhood, that’s where I live but not ideal for REI..Most apts are Coops the majority of boards won’t allow you to rent and if they do there will be restrictions..SFHs, Multis or Condos prices are very high, it will be difficult for positive cash flow every month..

Ideally what you need to do is study and research on your own to determine exactly what you feel is the best fit for yourself.

you lucked out. receiving a vacant unit is an ideal scenario, as you can now screen and place a tenant to your standards. you should tell the seller you want to receive unit vacant

Ideally, we’d like to go in on properties with other investors that are willing to do the research.

I've developed an interest in FL tax certificates and then accidentally ran across some 'Foreclosure Ready' tax certificates on Ebay. 

Develop a relationship with a realtor.

My wife and I have a goal to purchase our first house by the end of this year, ideally a multi family home that we can house hack. 

It is definitely less than ideal, but deployments are a fact of life in the military so if you don't figure out a way to mitigate them you will never get started.

Looking to house hack something here (multiplex or single family with income rental potential) but even with a renter the numbers aren’t ideal for me.

Nick is very right in saying Oceanside has huge upside potential due to its future development and property value at the moment.