I was looking at some home price stats from the past few months and it seems like the much talked-about slow-down in the Denver market is upon us. 

I have a potential client who wants me to do a total rehab of their residence but I have heard horror stories in that payment takes a while and contractors end up being over leveraged or needing to stop work due to slow payments.

The only thing that slowed me down was waiting on inspectors. otherwise I would have did it alot quicker.

That would make for a mortgage payment less than your rent (PITI of $1,590.96 @ 4.5% interest rate).You could rent out the other two rooms for $500/mo (kinda like you're doing now), and drop your share of the monthly payment to only $600 or so before utilities.This would increase your savings per year by $12,000 per year (+480%), which would allow you spend that money paying down the current mortgage at an accelerated rate, make renovations to the property to increase it's value, and save up for your second property.

If they're slow and full of empty promises, you move onto the next guy.

Go slow and build a case. 

For now maybe get a side gig to accelerate your savings.

Remember real estate is generally a get rich slow game.

Back in 2006-2012 they called these loans the home ownership accelerator (HOA) mortgages.

VA doesn't have accelerated clause if someone is looking to purchase as you are but I ask because I've personally never experience (I've done residential and investment loans) VA loans that are assumable.