Not impossible but...I'd suggest continuing to pay down all the debt you can as you have been doing. 

Hello BP, I've found myself in a rather fortunate predicament and could use some guidance from experienced investors.I'll be coming home from a 10-month military deployment with approximately 100k tax free income in the bank.I've been feverishly educating myself on all things real estate investing and I'm confident that it's the best investment vehicle suited for me.There are a lot of options on the table, so here are a few parameters:- VA Loan eligible, but...- NYC resident with NYC residency requirement for work- Focused on OOM investing (particular interest in Rust Belt for a variety of reasons: Pitt, Cleveland, Cincy etc.)- Student loans paid off.

He may be healthy now, but you never know what the future holds.You need to balance the stepped up equity with his potential need for medical care.Also, if he is in a vehicle accident he could loose the property in a lawsuit settlement. 

I know most say don't pay in advance but I find that nearly impossible in the low priced reno game. 

I think it may be because I have two vehicles under my name and a boat.

Impossible is simply not a word in a successful businessman's vocabulary. 

Fine to keep some in.Just impossible to gauge how this will be evaluated.

Regardless of that emotional stuff and trying to help where you can if missing a couple of rent payments is too financially straining, as someone else mentioned missing a mortgage payment, you are super under capitalized and need to be in a different investment vehicle.

I'm not saying deals are impossible to find on the MLS but most of the good deals are gone before they hit the MLS.

While not impossible, everyone has at least some small failures.If you're an operator, looking to learn from other people failures, then you got to read up a few books and network extensively to gain the knowledge from those who have failed.