It provides a fixed housing rate if you attend an online school; but keep in mind these benefits are NOT available while on active duty. 

He also tell me his guy has been in business 25 years and has done numerous showers and thinks my design isn't practical for the showers.

My initial thought is that it would be a benefit and that military renters are at least a little more responsible than the typical renter.

What I'm wondering is - what benefits/disadvantages have you experienced when using the same real estate company for PM and purchasing vs. separate companies?

There have been numerous people on BP talking about how they paid application fees but they could never get their loans closed on any deal brought to the company.

If you haven't already done so, use  your VA benefit to buy a home.

I don’t want to be taken advantage of, don’t know if this benefits me; the property will be worth 600K low end to 800K high end when done.

Why are the tax benefits they speak of?

The benefit of separate LLCs for each property with the formation costs, franchise tax costs, and accounting and tax prep costs of a single LLC.

Alternately, partnering on longer-term real estate investments offers distinct tax benefits and greater returns, that the two of you might consider.If your dad has idle money in the bank, or perhaps in a tax-deferred or tax-free self-directed retirement plan, an 8% - 10% loan could make some sense, but not if he has to borrow the cash.Jeff S. – Private Lender in Los Angeles