This would still be fully refundable to the tenant and is a nice way to save up for their next place, be it another rental or a purchase while giving the LL more security.I ask because I get the impression that tenants often find a sense of comfort with their LL's over time and are more likely to get lacks in their upkeep of a property over time.

Should I use a HELOC, Home Equity Loan, or keep saving until I can make a down payment for a conventional mortgage?  

Doesn't add much to the payment and saves cash for renovations, next property, etc.

My dilemma is whether I use my VA loan for the multi family which will turn into an investment property after I change duty stations in two years or save that VA loan for my personal residence once I establish more permanent roots upon competition of my service. 

They then pass the savings on to the owner of the roof that they're “renting”. 

It is worth a few hundred bucks to save your house. 

Even if it is not a savings but close to a wash, I would still consider the refi because it would give me the ability to substantially increase the limits on my existing HELOC. 

Mine was reminding me at least weekly after 6 months.It's a good way to save some money, but it's also a way to really extend your 'start date' of getting rent, which might actually cost you in the long run. 

I’m 25 years old and I have been saving for about the last 2 years to be able to start investing in real estate.

All fields are saved as text so it takes a lot of data cleaning to make it usable, and even then, it seems to run into issues a lot with certain loops.