@Michelle Nevarez, the most common way people get started is through house hacking.You could use your VA loan to buy a property for yourself to live in.  

I'm wondering if any veteran on BiggerPockets has ever utilized their VA loan to secure any multifamily property ( specifically here in Los Angeles County), i'm familiar with the process but just wondering if anyone has ever done it.

Looking for some guidance from either property management company owners/brokers or landlords that have 100+ units managed through property management software such as Buildium, AppFolio, Propertyware, etc.. 

I would most likely be interested in renting out multi-family units and would have to use a property management company, since I live outside of Chicago. 

Real Estate investing and management of all my properties is all I do.

It's pretty unlikely that you'll hit FI in 5 years unless you have paid off properties.

Investing in buy and hold properties here in Washington has been very rewarding for my wife and I. 

Lower property taxes and landlord friendly. 

Congratulations on your investment properties.

My duplex units are almost identical.Also, after sold, my understanding is that, I can purchase only non owner occupant property via 1031 exchange, but I can purchase either owner or non owner occupant property via Sec 121 exclusion.