The government has done this to encourage economic growth.

Would you rather hire the 380 laborers or the CEO who gets paid as much as all of them, but knows how to create more economic value?

I'll suggest that you search here and elsewhere for the term "use of funds" the economic and financial impact of leveraging assets.

The fact that you are living there doesn't alter those economics.

I'm looking to just start with getting my own outflow of money reduced so I can build a stronger economic base, and then expanding from there.

Stick to the numbers and the economic data and location for that area and take emotion and excitement out of the equation.If you worry about servicing the mortgage find out what the going market rent is for those units.

Fannie and Freddie have had 85% of the marketshare for Multifamily financing since the crisis.

OO may be a lower interest rate and NOO higher, so not being truthful has an economic aspect that becomes or seen as fraud.

With your degree you might be interested in municipal or state government, state finance departments administer grants for economic development.

Search to for "use of money" "financial leverage" and "opportunity cost" here as well as on the internet for these economic considerations. :)