Especially when getting leads from insurance relocation companies you never want to say no!

I would take a different tack than most.  

@Nicholas Halterman to answer your question, is it worth putting money down on a VA loan, the short answer is...it depends.The answer differs whether or not you are just buying 1 home, or planning to house hack.

You would need a proper assignment agreement, full disclosures and the title company to arrange assignment and settlement and the collection of you're giant profits. 

Brett, there are many wholesale only companies that hire for this type of person.

Although market fluctuations and regional differences can impact these trends, targeting the late fall and winter months usually provides a greater chance of purchasing a home at a lower cost.

I can definitely say that while the bigger fire we had was a pain... it actually worked out really well... in the end we had a much improved property, and we stepped in and did as much of the work we could do ourselves that the insurance company was compensating us at  'retail' rates for... like painting, and replacing cabinets, and other simple tasks.  

How long it takes to be financially ready is different for everyone.

There are a few different options you can look for in this case.

I would house hack and increase income if I were in your situation and find different side hustles and pay down the debt.