Being a real agent is a massive advantage.

I do this a lot as a competitive advantage in acquiring highly-sought after properties - but using a short-term asset to acquire a long-term one is not a wealth building strategy.  

And about 30 or 45 minutes worth of other bullet points, often the result would be that you would then go back to the taxpayers with (this is often how the choice would play out) "hey here's option A or option B, A has you paying less in taxes this year, but you mentioned that you might want to buy a home this year, option B might be more advantageous for that.

Some of the most pathetic and miserable people I've met in my lifetime are the ones who are constantly trying to con, avoid their responsibilities, and take advantage of others as much as they can. 

Have you taken advantage of your VA loan yet?

Depreciation is one of most significant tax advantages to real estate. 

Your potential advantage here over a younger person is you have access to 55+ communities that you can house hack, which if the numbers work out and the HOA isn't a micro-kingdom, is just as viable.

I fear I could get taken advantage of.

I want my tenants to feel comfortable with what they are signing, as I know that some of them have been taken advantage of by less than upstanding landlords.

So just take advantage of the forums.