However, if you’re early in your investment career and plan to grow at some point down the line, then it mathematically makes no sense paying down either with extra principal payments.

They need to speak with a lender who can pull their current entitlement charged for the current loan, and then they need to tell the lender what County they want to buy in and how much of a home and downpayment they plan to purchase.  

The VA's guidelines do require the buyer assuming the VA loan to occupy the home as their primary residence when the assumption is processed.

How long will it require to implement your business plan and rent / stabilize the property? 

I've just done the work myself: get a judgment, file to have wages garnished, place liens on any property they may own (I've had some people come up as being on joint title on a property).Some people will sent up a payment plan as soon as the sheriff shows up to serve them with papers because they're so embarrassed!

I already have an agent but if anyone is able to help with the search it would be greatly appreciated.In regards to location, I would like to stay in Santa Monica, or somewhere close and the unit needs to have at least one bedroom.Thank you in advance,ySkylerAloha Skyler,  are you planning to BRRRR, House Hack, or do Forced Equity/Appreciation? 

Devin,Just a warning about checkbook IRAs: Self Dealing Activities will get your entire IRA disallowed and you will have to pay the tax on all your money.Self Dealing Activities are frighteningly easy to do.Do a Copilot search for "Problems with checkbook IRA plans."

I plan on doing long distance investing since I’ll be deploying to Japan soon! 

Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.Run a credit/screening report on yourself.Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.Sign documents electronically.Run owner reports.After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out.

My plan is to use a first-time buyer's loan program, live in the property for a year, and then turn it into a rental property.