Quote from @Kaitlyn Beard: Quote from @Rob Chiang: what are the homes selling for out there? 

I was able to rent the garage to a seasoned electrician running his business through there only coming in and out to stock his truck once per day.I hope to be able to convert the second floor into an ADU as soon as Feb 2nd rolls around.

Out of state and contracted it? 

You need to figure out what your market is for mid term.

They normally will give out free drinks at these events so it's a win-win!

I'm not sure I would get to cute trying to squeeze every time out of it now with a lease that might cause you issues in the future, but the scenario you describe is common and probably smart. 

I was working through the HELOC process since we have quite a lot of equity when I suddenly got denied because 1 of the 5 units is owned by someone who lives overseas and rents out his unit.

The seller was moving out of state and needed to sell.

We would live in one half, rent the other and move out within a year once we find a better place to call home and then have both sides rented.2) We buy a home in our own names, not in LLC, with cash.3) Once we get jobs we can buy more duplexes in a different LLC, hopefully with a loan using equity from perhaps the other properties?

Kathy, check out Anchor Loans as a comparable.