I’ve looked it up online and found mixed results.

Look at where you stand, make goals for now and later, and kick off small to mix things up.

In my market it's a mixed bag currently: we still have very low inventory in the entry-level price bands (under $1M) where we are still seeing multiple offers above-ask on any reasonably-priced listing that's in decent condition (I saw one go over-ask by $500k last week with 18 offers!)

What your working on is considered a "mixed use" property.

Also consider the mix of assets in that is one producing good cashflow and another appreciating above average. 

i dont pay attention to who we vote into our cabinets, but i guess it would be a good thing if we got a more diverse ethnic mix into ours

You could get a duplex in a B-C class neighborhood for 250k and take advantage of a hybrid mix of cash flow and appreciation. 

I am looking at a mixed use building in the 6 to 12 unit range in an expensive area of the country.

I am trying to refinance a my mixed use property in NYC, who are the best banks to accomplish this?

Allow the bank to do the work rather than you needing to track money intended for different purposes all mixed into one pot.