Would it be worth keeping then if I would have no money in the deal?

Continue to repeat #1 recommendation every 12 months until you are tired of moving.The ugly truth is that you need some money to start investing in real estate and I strongly recommend you do it with your own money before you start lending money from family and friends.All the best and keep up posted on your progress.

Every goal, decision, expectation, vision and operational decision has to be lock step with each other- and that isn't even discussing the money side of the agreement.  

This year we decided to sell and move money elsewhere, we are currently under contract for around our asking price of $900,000.

hard money, renovation loan How did you add value to the deal?

Like anything else, it takes a lot more time and money than you think.

Big enough that you aren't competing with newer investors/house hackers but small enough that you aren't competing with institutional money.

You have to explain it to the listing agent who doesn't get it, who then sends that to the seller, by telling them it's not that you have no money, but this is a right afforded to you based on your service to the country and you can also show proof of funds that you have money, but are choosing not to use it as a downpayment because you want to do reno with it.I would use your VA, that's what it's there for.

It seems a niche area where you can make some good money.

People funding in 2nd position behind hard money at 75%+ CLTV on flips with aggressive ARV's, people funding EMDs and closing costs for "wholesalers" who have completed 1-2 deals and dont have $5k to their name, etc.