Establish Base: the owner-occupied 2-4 unit option

What the official source says

• VA lists buying a single-family home up to 4 units among eligible uses of a VA-backed purchase loan.
• You must live in the home you buy with the loan, and meet VA and lender requirements. Confirm property eligibility with your lender.

Source: VA Purchase Loan

What it does not mean

• A duplex, triplex or fourplex you live in may create housing-income potential. It does not guarantee rent, and it does not make rent automatically count toward qualifying.
• Whether and how income from other units counts is a lender question. Vanguard does not have a governed official source on that underwriting treatment.
• Owning units means being a landlord from the day you close. Management reality starts here, not later.