Give me a shout if you have questions, but here's the short of it.Best financing is going to be from a bank or a conventional construction loan.

If my spouse wasn’t opposed to moving I would try to buy a new house hack every 12-15 months and use low down payment owner occupied loans for as long as it made sense.

What they will offer you is an appliance package, or closing cost help, or a low fixed rate loan. 

Purchase price: $302,500 Cash invested: $5,000 Utilized VA Loan for a House Hack for my first Rental Property.

Can you be financially free, sure, consider if you are buying real estate you will no longer have stable income to get a loan.

Here's a breakdown on loan options to consider:FHA Loan: @Brittany Minocchi is right in looking at FHA option.  

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

I am responding as a consumer not a STR owner we had one its lasted for us for exactly one tenant then we felt it was too much work for the return  on investment we do much better loaning money and buidling new homes than to worry about people goofing up our homes :)I do have some MTR you know fully furnished homes in Vegas and those are money makers for us top of the line tneants paying double the going rate for rent.

Quote from @Vince Scipione: Standard would be an FHA loan for your situation more than likely.

Is there a pre existing loan with that bank with either of you?