Yes a new person's experience could absolutely be different. 

I personally believe that landlords can be great change agents in a community.  

Second would be connecting with RE folks in your local market either in person or here on BP.I think house hacking in McDonough is a great place to start.

House hacking is how I personally got started with real estate investing and how I help the majority of my clients get their foot in the door.

@Tracy ScottScour the HOA docs for wording involving occupancy such as, "not more than three (3) persons not related by blood or marriage living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit."

Then go and get a good umbrella policy personally. 

Really making sure that you stay on top of that person (contractor, you, architect) on the ball by following up with the city to get that permits done in a timely fashion. 

But if you have one person who wants high end and new all the time and another who is fine with status quo, it is going to lead to problems.

(I've written about the topic on the forums many times).I also have personal experience rehabbing properties with structural issues (unfortunately).I've bought and rehabbed properties in almost every condition imaginable, but I've never knowingly bought a property with significant structural issues--that's my one deal-breaker.

If you're the kind of person that needs hard math and graphing to understand things, this is completely the book you need on building wealth through duplex living.If your wife is behind you in this idea, and can see it as a move to financial independence, congratulations, you're in the small minority, as I am.