Are there other ideas to make this deal work? 

Yes, look at properties in Galveston, 6102 Sea Wall Blvd, Galveston, this complex allows STR's, we can do STR no seasoning DSCR loans if you are interested.

Your VA loan may allow you to do that and buy more properties at the same time, but you want to learn from your house hack first instead of trying to manage from out of the country.

Are there any tried and true/ industry standard sites, forums, etc. where those looking to avoid capital gains look for investment properties?  

with the market flat, contractors booked up, materials expensive and tremendous competition for deals it is very, very difficult for a new investor at this time.i've used hard money and also bought with cash and then financed the rehab.

This is where you buy, live in, rent it out, repeat.

This will give you insight into their experience, expertise, and knowledge.

If you have any tips you'd like to share, please feel free to reach out. 

Newer isn't always better, and this picture sums it up pretty well. 

They have no workaround for this.None of this is getting pushed through to our CRM( Investorfuse) either.