Identifying value-add opportunities in strong neighborhoods and negotiating deals that make sense is something I’ve done a lot, so I understand what it takes to make these projects successful.If you’d like, we can connect and talk through some strategies or areas to focus on—I’m here to help however I can.

We've utilized the VA loan for our current home, and this strategy has worked well so far.

Does anyone have any suggestions, advice or a strategy to share with me?

Just keep in mind the process can take a little longer since you’d need to work with contractors and follow FHA’s requirements.4.Your End Game: Whether you’re planning to stay long-term, rent it out, or sell once the work is done, it’s important to have your exit strategy mapped out.

@Jonathan Blanco, I'm and investor and a licensed mortgage broker so I've been on both sides of this conversation.I would look for a lender that (1) listens to you and understands your strategy and needs (hint: it's not always money), (2) has experience working with clients executing your strategy and brings more to the table than just cash - be it advice, relationships, deal-team partners, etc., (3) gives you viable options and explains the pros and cons of each option and (4) you enjoy interacting with - this should be a relationship, not a transaction.Once you find a few lenders like this (and you should have relationships with more than one), then you can start comparing rates and fees.

A nice multi family property that you can do some light fixtures on sounds like a perfect strategy for you so you and your wife can have your own unit.

The strategy may change, but every market can work.

I think that strategy works best in higher areas or mid term rentals near major employers.  

I also think that investing remotely is something I would do after locking down my local strategy.

By the time they research and go down all the rabbit holes of different strategies, never sticking to one in order to gain traction, they get exhausted, throw their hands up and never take any real substantive action.Pick something and go with it, all the way to its conclusion.