On top of that, VA loans are great for buyers but they aren't always attractive to sellers due to stricter property condition and appraisal requirements than other types of loans and obviously they are not nearly as attractive to the seller as a clean, cash offer would be. 

But can you use that 30% discount as an asset to get the bank to give you a loan.

The "present value" that pops up is what you would have to pay for the loan to get the yield you want.

Save for 5% down and use a conventional loan so you have fewer hoops to jump through. 

Current Loan Balance is $205,500.

My initial strategy is likely to buy a 2-family that needs work with 25% down using hard money loan to fund the purchase + rehab, get it stabilized/optimized and rented perhaps to section 8 tenants since I like the idea of that guaranteed rent/ seems to offer higher revenue than true market rents (I have been a real estate agent for over 10 years and am aware of the risks/rewards/diligence needed to succeed with section 8 tenants and have worked with many landlords with section 8 tenants but am new to investing myself), then re-finance at a higher appraised value back into a more standard loan while keeping 25% equity into the deal.

If it’s less than say $250k, I recommend participating in a few fractional loans.

I am currently in the process of weighing out my options when it comes to using my VA loan for the first time.

Operating reserves / CapEx reservesIf the seller has built up their own internal reserves, these typically do NOT transfer.Those are the seller’s savings for future expenses that will no longer be their responsibility after the sale.The exception:If you are assuming a loan with lender-held escrow reserves (common with agency loans), those lender escrows may transfer with the loan.Otherwise, plan to fund your own reserves after closing.Hope that helps!

I know for sure that getting financing for investment(s) will put stress on my credit rating, so I want to create as much margin ahead of time so I can get the best possible loan terms.