My plan is to eventually own a few buildings to provide my retirement income, as well keep me personally involved in the real estate business.I have never owned a whole building before, but as I read books, gather knowledge, and talk to my friends that do own buidings, I feel comfortable with making this transition.  

Specifically, any recommendations for a good real estate agent with VA Loan and Multifamily experience/knowledge would be most helpful. 

There is no extensive marketing campaign or advertising needed:  broker I bought through a couple of years ago has approached me to sell to an interested buyer she has identified and she is proposing 6%.   

You can decide if you want to repeat with another detached duplex to quad leveraging your increased knowledge and experience or if you want to use your VA loan and increased net worth to buy a long term family home (no house hacking).This is basically a BRRRR combined with house hacking leveraging the VA loan. 

The knowledge and resources are here.

Good morning BP,I'm currently exploring the idea of getting my real estate license in the state of Maryland and I have a couple of questions regarding the license that I am hoping to have answered by knowledgeable forum members.

Remember, the original agreement to buy from the current seller is made by the LLC...not you.2 - Seller gets their $10k3 - End buyer gets their property for a total cost of $25k4 - You make $15k profit5 - The original seller has no knowledge of the $15k profit you are making. 

Seems that as long as I build the cost into my numbers up front it'd be a good way to limit my exposure to tenant struggles and take advantage of the company's experience and knowledge of the market.

The answer is that to NOT invest in Houston due to fear of flooding is probably a BIG mistake as there are some very simple precautions you can take to mitigate the risk extensively.

If you're looking to manage your own homes and perhaps start a property management company, it's a great idea to get a job at one in your area, as you'll gain a lot of useful knowledge and can ensure that you handle future situations legally, correctly, and efficiently.