SFR conversion to Duplex in Michigan

[Taevin Thomas]

Hey guys, I'm a new homebuyer/ investor in Ypsilanti, MI.  I want to begin house hacking by purchasing a duplex close to my full time job, live in one side and rent out the other side to a tenant.  It's been tough trying to find affordable multifamily homes in the area though, and this fact has brought me to another idea: 

Buying a single family residence with an FHA loan and then converting the unit into a duplex as a part of the renovation. Do you guys have any experience with this? I know that there's zoning to consider as well as code and plumbing. All things considered, generally speaking would this approach be much more expensive than finding a traditional duplex in the area or less? Please let me know anything and everything that you can.

Thanks, 

Taevin