When you refi into a conventional loan you will still need 20% down.

Then once you finish the rehab, you can do a rate and term refi (NOT CASH OUT REFI) the second you finish the rehab, no seasoning period.Get conventional rate and term refi done, lowest available rates. 

If you’re residing in one space and renting out the other space, do you have to apply for an investment property loan or will a conventional loan work?

Non-owner occupied (aka I do not intend to live in the property) loans are typically 20% or more down conventional loans.FSBO?

Do I use hard money then refinance out of it with a lower rate/conventional once I have all the tenets in the building? 

This is not the same as a real estate attorney, most of whom understand conventional loans, but possess little knowledge of private lending.

Say she does a 203k or conventional renovation loan she could have you joint on title as non borrowing or on the loan to help. 

(investor)A:VA loans want to net 88% of appraised value,Conventional will accept as low as 80% and reverse mortgage will accept 95% if the property is vacant if its occupied they will rarely accept anything under 5k of appraised value.Q:The owner is not the borrower can we do a short sale.

I am new to this but jumping in head first and looking to make offers in the next couple weeks. Any information on the process of qualifying would be nice and specific recommendations on positive experiences with Hard...

After a year of living there, you can refinance into a conventional owner-occupied loan (they might require 20% equity but ask around) and use the FHA loan for your next purchase.