If you have a small cash reserve single family is a good way to get your toes wet. 

Down payment + Reserves? 

Was told we "passed" the lender's test:  730 Credit scores,  plenty of $ for DP and reserves, years fo experience as RE Broker and PM, plus 2 rental properties and hx of BRRR.  2 weeks later, " the lender feels you do not have enough recent flip experience" and terms are up t 20% DP plus 4, not 2, points. 

✓Requirements for a Delayed Financing ExceptionThe original purchase transaction was an arms-length transaction.For this refinance transaction, the borrower(s) must meet Fannie Mae’s borrower eligibility requirements as described in B2-2-01, General Borrower Eligibility RequirementsThe borrower(s) may have initially purchased the property as one of the following:a natural person;an eligible inter vivos revocable trust, when the borrower is both the individual establishing the trust and the beneficiary of the trust;an eligible land trust when the borrower is the beneficiary of the land trust; oran LLC or partnership in which the borrower(s) have an individual or joint ownership of 100%.The original purchase transaction is documented by a settlement statement, which confirms that no mortgage financing was used to obtain the subject property.

I understand where your husband is coming form (having to worry about 2 mortgage payments but if you can show you have enough reserves that should enable him to move forward). 

What happens when at closing they pull a report to confirm nothing significant has changed in your financial situation - and they realize that it has.

I would start trying to confirm their claims via Google as @Paul Sandhu hinted at about Keto diets. 

You will need more in reserves as you grow though (usually 6 mos PITI for each unit) also, always talk to your lender FIRST before you close on everything.

As for the cost of dues in an HOA, those are typically determined by the age of the property, the level of maintenance required and whether the HOA is putting away enough in reserves as they are required to do so for capital expenditures like new roofs, road work on private roads, maintaining driveways, etc..

@Jeffrey Honaker, a few things to think about:Have you confirmed rents in the area?