I am interested in purchasing my first STR.

I'm buying in Brownsville soon, but want to interview quite a few people first. 

This will be my first CRE loan and learning that they are more complex than residential loans.

Negatives to VA Loans- Seller pays for termite Inspection-Termite damage needs to be repaired- VA property condition requirements- Longer close times- VA borrowers are typically, but not always, First Time Home Buyers, so all the perils that go along with that.- VA Borrowers very often tends toward very subpar lenders like USAA for instance.

This will be my first property.

My first goal is to do a house hack but a little different from the standard that we all know and love.

My first rationale is the smaller homes will attract the type of tenet I’d prefer compared to the larger home I currently own which would be larger families.

What would you recommend for a first-time buyer?

Yep, do a search first.

First time not using an auction.