VA Loan, Cash out refinance, or hard money with the BRRRR Strategy

[Tanner Bundy]

Hey all,

Really excited to "start" my real-estate journey. I've been doing the numbers on at least one deal daily for any small multifamily properties that my agent can send me or that I can find on any different platform. 

My question is that I have one property that I bought 2 years ago with the VA loan which now clears up my eligibility to use it again. My struggles are that I want to find a property that I can fix up with my background in contracting. Still, I don't think I can get the VA loan with this in mind, even though the property that I have now wasn't in the best shape in terms of rotting window trims and minor things that historically people will say the VA loan won't accept. So I just wanted to hear you all out on what you think I should do. Use the VA loan and buy a nicer property that I would have to move into with my wife and dog, with less likelihood of getting a good deal and putting the sweat equity in it that I think will be my upper hand starting out in this game. Or do I cash out refinance my current property that I have a 2.75% interest rate on and I'm currently house hacking, just to pull the cash out to start my first BRRRR? So, of course, my next option would be to find a hard money lender which of course is a great option I just feel like I have a decent amount saved up but not quite enough to pay a downpayment and for the repair cost out of pocket. I don't want to leave easy money on the table with the VA loan either but I'm just trying to figure out how to best finance my first deal when I get back from my deployment in June. Thanks to everyone who is willing to help!