Pursuing Section 8 rentals & tenants is a TOOL, not a strategy - despite whatever the self-appointed "gurus" publish online.Section 8 comes with it's own unique problems which many newbies don't take the time to understand.You can PM us if you want to discuss further.

With my equity I could easily get  the down payment for a rental, as well as I qualify for the VA loan, and would like to take advantage of that.I guess my question is should I focus on just one strategy, or should I just do whatever the market throws my way, whether its a rental or a flip.

This was a question I asked when I my interest was peaked year ago.A great book I would reccomend, available on audible you can listen to...The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and low) Money Down.It will lay out many of the strategies that beginners and even successful investors utilize to invest in real estate.A popular strategy of many of investors involves investing with OPM (Other Peoples Money), myself included.

However, if you are interested in section 8 or rent-by-the-room investments, these strategies can provide more cash flow but come at a higher risk (one of the many tradeoffs in real estate).

I am just trying to buy a property myself in the next 5 months and part of my lead gen/prospecting/marketing strategy is to outsource cold calling but in order to do that, it seems that I need the whole system in place (e.g., cold calling --> Followup --> Acquisitions --> Closing)  to take care of the motivated sellers that come out of the cold calling (e.g., speed to lead).    

It just depends pending your area and also strategy (whole place vs. bedroom). 

Up until this point, when your income was lower and you were following a more “vanilla” financial strategy, the need for a specialized accountant might not have been apparent.

I'm sure someone will find a strategy to cope with this eventually.

But losing x% or higher DOM does affect a retail flipper cuz we're playing the short game.Now to contradict myself, exit strategy is another component of underwriting.

Just moved to Mankato 6 months ago and am looking to get into a deal here very soon, and with any luck, will have some velocity to our strategy so will bee looking for an additional deal in 6 months or so.