(A lot of this plan has changed since I discovered the @BiggerPockets .com group recently) I was originally thinking to use my VA Loan to get into properties with little down and do 2 year flips and then "sell" or "transfer" the property deed to my partners name to free up my available VA loan to purchase a 2nd property in Hawaii (I lived in Hawaii for 3 years and have solid connections and visit often) which would be Multi-Family Unit and allow me to rent out the other units full time and possibly do short term rentals in our unit when we are not on the island.After joining the BP group I have since learned there are many other resources and quicker outcomes than in my original rough draft plan.

What was the outcome?

But, since you are a contractor you have a skill that can be traded for equity in a project once you learn what the parameters of a deal like that might look like.

On living with tenants--your attitude will determine the outcome. 

I always like to hear the outcome.

Read the fine print on anything where it seems you're getting something for nothing.Years ago I investigated "free" money being offered for lead paint abatement work, and buried many pages into the agreement was a paragraph saying that rents would be kept at least 30% below "fair market rent" for the units for five years, or something to that effect.When I reached that paragraph I stopped reading, it wasn't worth it to continue.Sometimes it's worth the trade-off or restrictions.

Jack of all trades master of none.

I was thinking I'd trade some of my cash flow for an early payment in a troubling time.

What was the outcome?

What was the outcome?