Weighing options on financing our next deal..

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Hello BP!

I'm active duty military, I have a 1yr old VA loan on our current home, a duplex, the loan is only in my name. We have been receiving rental income monthly for about 6 months. We're looking into buying another home solely under just my wife's name (her "first residence"), so we don't tap out both our credit so quickly.

Our primary focus is buy and hold investing and we would prefer to rent the next property out completely, but we will consider moving into the home if necessary too fullfil residency requirements. She works FT but makes less than I, so DTI is a concern of ours. I've heard about gifting money to her for a higher down payment as a possibility to qualify for certain loans to keep her DTI lower, but we share a bank account, so will that be a problem?? We are looking into FHA 203k, fannie mae homestyle, the New York state mortage programs. Any other loan products or good lending companies that service Upstate, NY would be greatly appreciated.

Her credit isnt the best (640), but we're prepared for a large downpayment. That is as long as I can "gift" the funds to her even though we share the same bank account. 

The loan officers in my town have all been off this week, which is why I haven't touched base with them firsthand.. 

Thank you

Joe