There is a way to do it, but its best hashed out in a convo with both a legal asset protection specialist and insurance agent.  

Hi @Jeffrey Suarez, I'll do my best to provide some high level answers but some of these should be addressed by specialist you retain.1) Cap Gains: It sounds like you're divorce, not sure if remarried, but it's $250k for individuals and $500k for couples. 

If you can find someone who's a real estate specialist, who you trust with your finances at a price that you're okay with then you have someone

Bank" finally confirmed the file as complete for the moment and that a specialist with "Bank" will be assigned to the file.

I am willing to put down 30-50% down payment to have more skin in the game.Advice please....Andrew

I am the Community Engagement Specialist here as well as a DFW local (NFW/ Keller).

When making offers with a VA loan in a competitive market, offer 5k earnest money that will be returned at closing which then gives you skin in the game so you can't walk away which is why many sellers don't like the zero down aspect.Connect with my friend @Joel Allen.

He should be able to provide you with far better advice then some random name on a forum who has no skin in the game.  

Hi Ben,A brewery huh...You probably have something else in mind. but when you say Fort Collins BreweryI envision a Brewery/public bar with the bar having 12 foot high ceiling to floor windows on one side (on the side of a mountain) with a long expansive unobstructed view of the lower lands below.With a 40 foot deep deck on piles with chairs and tables outside in front of the large windows.And inside chairs and tables plus 6 premium raised up horseshoe booths that go for $20 extra just to sit there and enjoy the view--and buy alcohol and food.The bar serves high quality skin on hot dogs, fries cooked in beef tallow, pizza with  ton of cheese on it, high quality fried cheese sticks, and hot wings.The interior color scheme is dark brown wood and burgundy Naugahyde with nail trim.With some salt blocks put out to attract Elk to the area.There is a large steel building on the property with it's own parking lot for rental for wedding receptions, which includes a bar (due to the liquor licence)It also has a nice view and flowery repose area for wedding pics with the beautiful view as a background.Customer base not aimed at the College level (animal House crowd), but a nice place, a destination, that if someone is going to visit Ft.Collins--this is "THE" place to visit (and spend money at).But with Covid...public gathering places...hmmmm .... hmmmmm(???)

Especially since you are new to investing, really lean- and I mean big time, on your STR investment specialist realtor.