If I were in your shoes, I’d treat that $50K signing bonus as your seed capital, not something to “spend” but to leverage smartly.Here’s a framework I’d consider:Keep your VA loan for the house hack — 0% down, low interest, and no PMI means your cash stays liquid.Use part of the bonus for reserves — 6–12 months of expenses (both personal + property).

Quote from @Mark L Weglarz: I am an investor in the Grocapitus/UGro Build to Rent (BTR) Texas Fund and the "Pre-Seed" Fund. 

You’ll end up owning something far away you can’t fix and can’t sell.If you treat that 10–15K like seed money — to get experience and leverage relationships — it’s more powerful than waiting years to stack 100K; Stanley I really hope this helps you and your clients a bit, I sent you a DM on BP, it's one of the reasons I do this, I hope you can assist.

I'd be shocked if any engage, but it's not to get the deal now, it's about planting the seed, and making that connection. 

In California, think “options, not pressure”: either rent it as-is for cash flow, add a light value-add to boost rent, or tap a HELOC/cash-out refi to seed your first 1–2 cash-flowing rentals in a cheaper market while keeping this asset.

Will show show normal seed sown trees next year to show the differences. 

So like many these folks got into the debt side and made some pretty poor choices . then when they got their seed money and got an office downtown SF they really blew up but bad deals are bad deals and its no more along with many others as you mention.. 

Family-wise we seed Roths, college and down payment assistance for our motivated Gen Z kids, nieces and nephews that should continue for generations. 

I've been educating myself on meta ads recently regarding the use of lists as seed audiences since meta cross references them with existing accounts and targets them.Also, do you have specific venders that you use for boots on the ground operation such as site visits / photagraphy?

Worth clarifying early.Reserves – I like that you’re already planning to seed an emergency/vacancy fund with $40k and contribute the extra savings each month.