If there are no real tax advantages, I think I will just go with purchasing the property in my name. 

I know everything is either closed or delayed now , so I don’t want to be insensitive, but I do believe buyer is taking advantage since closing can be done by mail . 

It is so hard to get money into tax advantaged plans don’t ever take it out unless it is your last resort. 

Your still getting loan paydown, tax advantage, and appreciation (hopefully)With low down on your va you save as much cash as possible to buy your second house conventional with 20%down.

Once we have lived in our current home for at least two years to take advantage of the tax benefits, we will sell it (essentially making it a live in flip) and move into the other home.

If you are going to have a non-occupant co-signer who helps you qualify for your 2-4 unit property, you may not be able to take advantage of that 3.5% down, but instead, be required to put down a whopping 25%.

That’s awesome that you took advantage of the down payment assistance program.

And thirdly, to save some money.It is very, very difficult to find a better example than this crisis to illustrate what I've always said is the biggest risk advantage of DIY investing: you are the contractor of last resort. 

Also does it help that I will become a veteran by in about 14 months so I can use the VA home loan to my advantage?

Given all that, would you still take out a HELOC just to secure some cash on hand to take advantage of the potential downturn in the market to buy more investment properties?