Have these guys ever heard of Quicken or any of the online personal finance programs available to track spending?

It’s worth having some conversations with a lender who offers DSCR or similar programs.

This criteria is for 1-4 and 5-8 unit programs.

-It doesn't appear you are contributing any of the equity.

Most institutional DSCR lenders prefer one lease per property/unit, however, I've seen programs allowing rent by room strategies.

By doing this we qualified for a larger mortgage because we could use the rent from the other tenant to qualify and there are better lending programs when it’s “owner occupied”.  

I suspect that is due the psychological aspect in the appearance of it being cheaper in rent, because it's all in the same  area/complex. 

If it's just a money grab and there is no desire to associate with the aforementioned, you will most likely be on the losing end and feel very negative about the program.

When choosing tenants (I am in California), it's important to avoid even the appearance of discrimination, especially during in-person meetings.

IF you plan on going back someday, and this is the home you want to move back to, then renting it would be a good idea as long as you estimate that it will cover itself, or preferably, cash flow, which it appears that yours will at @ $2K or so per month (after expenses).