We will be moving to our next duty station this summer and have already put under contract a tri plex that will allow us to live comfortably (family of 6) and pay no rent or mortgage.

An early adopted mentor of mine taught me, "Everything you want lies just outside your comfort zone." 

Someone didn't do their due diligence - or doesn't know how, or knows something that the rest of us don't...To answer your question - if you are comfortable with 70% ARV less repairs - that seems to be the calculation being offered as a starting point.

The guys are hilarious.My main goal with real estate is setting up a stream of income that I can live comfortably with. 

@Brit FosheeThank you for your answer Brit that's great answer too.that's make me feel better, and comfortable.

You can actually write this directly in the contract if your seller if very comfortable with you.

This business is about low all cash OR creditive deal with payments that can help you as a re investor feel comfortable about the riskYou could also look at Wrap around mortgages depending on the existing financing for an acquisition strategy

Regardless of what I had I felt more comfortable with construction.  

Regardless of what I had I felt more comfortable in the construction business.  

But I couldnt manage both payments here & in the UK comfortably, if we were not able to rent the Richmond house out.