When people don’t act responsible, it shows up on their credit report, references, employment, etc.

Realtors typically refer to these as semi detached and they are sold individually all the time and are on separate deeds.

- Any tips or lessons learned for this type of project: I am typically a buy-and-hold kind of person and this is my first construction project.Thank youMo

Typical syndication returns can be 8% preferred returns (favor LP - you get paid first up to this amount) and cash on cash returns of 8-10%/yr and IRR of 18-20% over 5 yr typical hold.  

I know Fannie Mae typically requires 90 holding period before I could flip a Fannie Mae foreclosure but what about VA?

You might consider both (asking for references, and scouting the early bird material buyers in different sections of store) so that you have contacts for quick-and-dirty jobs, as well as larger projects.  

., figure out their typical useful life, and determine how much should be set aside each year based on the current replacement cost.  

Another assuming question is, if all goes right, which is usually the plan but typically not the outcome, is the profit all subject to tax even if its partially used to pay yhe HELOC?

This comparison is a little difficult to do, since hotels and apartments have significantly different structures (i.e. you typically don't see people making 100-room apartments or condos).

Typically tenants don't shovel or use salt.