If the new mortgage amount for the loan at the higher amount works so that the property still cash flows at the margin you're comfortable with, I'd say use the 203k to complete all the renovations needed.

Know the island and where you and your wife are comfortable before you offer and get stuck somewhere.

I finally got to a place where I felt comfortable to take action and I am now under contract on my first duplex which I will be house hacking and stuck on what I should do.I put an offer in at $149,500 on a property that was listed at $165,000.

This extended the amount of reserves I had in the bank, and was also part of the reason I felt comfortable with having a co-signer to qualify for a slightly larger/more expensive property.So now, I had a decision to make.

I would look at how much your payment is going to be and make sure you are comfortable paying that without any renters on your current salary.

Could you assume that cost and still be comfortable?

Id love to go thru with it but I would feel more comfortable renegotiating to hopefully accommodate for any drops in values in the upcoming months.

And, even though she didn't find the deal, I was happy to use her.My lender did say that the down payment could be less in future as he becomes more comfortable with clients (and depending on the deal).

We've planned on moving to Portland, OR because we love that area and worked hard last year paying off all of our debts so we can live comfortably while building our portfolio. 

I spent several months getting the owner comfortable selling the inherited property.