Has anybody had success getting their first few properties cash-flowing and then documenting that as sustained income for conventional financing on a new deal? 

My wife and I are working on purchasing our first duplex where we would utilize an fha loan to owner occupy the smaller of two sides.

I also want to know if you've included landlord insurance and utilities because in Utah the owner is incharge of water, sewer, garbage not tenant.  

(Then there is of course the follow-up questions- Other than yard maint/snow, garbage, utilities, etc. anything that's commonly missed that I can put on the Sched E?)  

Now, figure vacancy, repairs, utilities, lawn care, snow care) is there anything left over?

The people who sustained asbestos related injuries were people who worked in industrial settings in the trades, boilermakers and such. 

After utilities, we are breaking even or in the minus a bit.

Separate utility from excess & bling and stop trying to impress people that don't matter (like strangers on the freeway looking at your newly-leased $700/month Mercedes - foolish!). 

It shows them that I care, I've thought of them, and I want to go that extra step to make sure they feel comfortable and happy.Is this sustainable? 

Many CPAs will not know how to utilize these real estate programs.If you as investors need to show financials and do some modification on the financials to collapse or whatnot, the CPA might or might not do it on their QB.