You don't need 20% down.Sounds like a great plan.

When we moved, we turned it into a rental, hoping this would be the start of our real estate journey—something we’d like to continue once my husband retires.Some key details:My husband is active duty and will retire in 3 years.We have one final move coming up this summer to Raleigh, NC.Our current debts are crippling us—the high interest makes it tough to stay afloat every month.The plan me and my husband are thinking bout:Sell the rental property.Use the proceeds to pay off all our debts, set aside emergency funds and a down payment for our next home.Free up $1,500/month from debt payments, and that also can stash in a high-yield savings account.Regain full VA loan entitlement, allowing us to purchase a multifamily home and use the house hacking strategy for up coming move.Avoid capital gains tax, since April marks five years of ownership, and the tenant’s lease ends in May.This wasn’t our original plan, and we hate the idea of using our equity to pay off debt.

An example is on one permit I had plans for electrical, plans for gas, plans for AC condenser.

Like any financing strategy, due diligence and proper financial planning are key to making it a successful solution for both parties. 

Keep in mind of the I/O(payments/period) and game plan on how fast you'd like to pay it down. 

Plan for the unexpected3.

Multi-family real estate is something I am planning on doing after I graduate college and eventually full-time. 

@Matthew Posteraro That's a solid plan.

We had a plan to build a large real estate portfolio and then sell it in five years and divide the money.

My plan is to sell my primary home in New York and purchase a house to live in South Carolina.