Hi BiggerPockets Community!  I'm Melmar de Jesus, a rookie real estate investor excited to join this amazing community! I'm currently based in Yokosuka, Japan, serving at CFAY (Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka) in the US Navy, but I'm planning to return to the US to expand my real estate journey. I discovered BiggerPockets through Spotify.

I already own a single-family property in Hampton, VA, purchased using a VA Home Loan, but I'm new to real estate investing and unsure how to leverage this property to grow my wealth. I'm seeking guidance on what my next steps should be—whether that's turning it into a long-term rental, exploring house hacking when I return, or using it to build equity for future investments. My goal is to make the most of this property and start building a portfolio within the next 12 months after returning to the US.

I'm here to soak up knowledge, connect with other investors, and figure out the best path forward. Any advice for a beginner in the Hampton, VA market, especially on leveraging a property with a VA loan or transitioning from military life to real estate investing, would be greatly appreciated! Looking forward to engaging with this community and welcoming other new members too.