To the newbies and also to the seasoned veterans alike, The smallest effort can yield the largest results.

Be sure to jump on our group for members of the US Armed Forces & Veterans.

For the veterans, with investing into a SFR would I be better off with going through USAA or the VA ?

Could be a tiny bit could be a lot, but definitely seems worthwhile to ask some veteran landlords what the impact will be.

Start looking at other ways to buy, other than just with Veterans Administration backing. 

I'm also new (and a veteran). 

As a veteran, I'm in!

I looked into a VA loan (Mom is a veteran) but the rental income reserves are too much.

I am considering using my student loans to buy my first house hack, now here is why I am considering this and will be seeking your guidance first.I am a veteran, my school is 100 percent covered. school calculates tuition and cost of living to be around 83k a year not even close for me but I use it to my advantage. this allows me to take a maximum of 40k out per year. between me and my fiancé we are saving about 3500 a month, and we have a good amount in stocks currently.if I take out the maximum this year by this time next year we would have enough in cash our own plus the 40k student loans we could just buy the duplex outright meaning the 40k would be all the debt we have and use to buy it.

I agree that you need to be careful, ask about any and all potential problems.. environmental, flooding, property tax increases etc.At the same time think of all the things you could do... rent to own, lease options, niche renting for seniors or veterans,etc.