If you definitely plan on house hacking, you will need to look in PG county as you can actually get something that has extra rooms to be rented out.

Coin slots.

He wanted to lower his bids after the first batch but PG county does not allow that. 

I just checked it out, last sold for $389,000 but like a slot machine when you walk away don't look back.

You could do a VA in Bremerton and an FHA in DC.HUD 4000.1 pg 133 (ii,7,a), specifically states that a military member in your case would qualify for a FHA loan back in Washington, DC with your soon to be spouse (congrats btw!).

Can your builder be a PG on the loan? 

Short term rentals are only available to owners in PG County. 

Hey Jacob, 'Why not create an LLC with your brother in-law that has experience and have him be the PG on the loan?

I’d probably try to buy something a little farther out or on the pg side, but honestly renting and investing dp in stock market isn’t bad either.

Then set time slots for the rest.