Feel free to reach out with any questions, there's definitely a lot of educational info to pass around. 

I actually found my broker here on BP so once you choose a market, definitely set up some keywords and run some searches to find who is active in the area.

@Kian T. if I were in your shoes I would definitely sell the home.

I definitely won't be diving into anything without seriously understanding the numbers.

Yes, they're definitely ramping up but still not near 6% though... 

It is definitely a slower route and there is a maximum cap on VA loans.

Also, the market has definitely shifted a bit, which I think will provide even more reasonable opportunity for us. 

That may not make sense in all areas, but if you can make it work it definitely makes more sense. 

The absolute lowest income tax strategy isn't always the best for the taxpayer.Regardless of the path chosen, OP should definitely consult a pro who can examine facts and circumstances, as well as goals.

I would not bother with an appraisal. 1. your more accurate idea of the property value won't be actionable, and the bank will definitely get one when they go to loan. 2. why would you want to delay closing?