What's required is income to support the payments - this can be self employment, this can be pension income, this can be alimony, et cetera.Specific to your question, net positive cashflow from pure investment properties (ie, not 'house hacks') must be 2.5x your personal housing expense plus monthly consumer debt obligations combined.

Property management is at time time consuming process and the fees don't even justify the work we do it but we still do it to help investors.

Honestly, if you build your systems & team, its not that time consuming.

They use First American's Rate card but they're a little more consumer friendly than First American or Chicago Title or Stewart.Citywide has been great for me when it comes to selling anything distressed. 

I had an account with 400 feet of sidewalk that had to be charged every time because it was time consuming. 

And landlords will do the same as every business person does, they will pass along the increase in costs to the consumer.

The only occupancy requirement with regards to the VA handbook is that you have to have the “intent to occupy within 60 days of closing”.

I restored one of my rental buildings woodwork and although it was  very, very time consuming,  I loved the finished product. 

Some advice; educate your self and consume as much content as you can!

I would avoid using consumer finance companies.