But it's all been for my primary residences - which doesn't make much money. 

Life long Maryland resident.

Househacking can be a little complex for tax purposes.You have a primary residence in addition to a rental property.You are eligible to deduct direct and indirect expenses related to your rental property.Direct expenses can be considered items like repairing an appliance in the rental unit  or doing the flooring in the rental unit.Indirect expenses are items are items for the full house that you would pro-rate to your personal residence and your rental property.

@Ronnie GalindoIf you can wait another year, look into Internal Revenue Code Section 121 - exclude the gain from sale of your principal residence under certain circumstances. 

The areas I’m looking to invest in and purchase my primary residence are Raleigh, Greensboro/winston, or somewhere in between.

Personally I'm not sure that I would ever do it on my own residence, but it doesn't seem like a bad solution for rental properties where every penny is being pinched as @Mark Fries suggested. 

I am shopping small multi family residences at the moment.

5.5% 30 year fixed for a four plex refi (investment property, not primary residence).

@Eli Rollins, if you stated in your loan that this will be your primary residence and owner occupied, it would be mortgage fraud if you decide not to live there.

Most parks do want owner occupants to reside inside of the homes, versus renters.