This was my primary residence and I sold the home to a friend at a very low interest rate, but a higher sales price than I would have been able to get with the house all torn up. $220,000 SP, $195,000 initial purchase price, $5,000 down.

They were both live-able and for our primary residences at the time so we used conventional financing.

My advice to you and your wife and my own personal method for someone who also lives in North County San Diego(Escondido) is to take advantage of your VA loan and buy a primary house first.

They were both live-able and for our primary residences at the time so we used conventional financing.

I would rather renovate a rental and be able to take the depreciation instead of renting my primary residence unless I am missing something.

Your primary lender will require your secondary lender to sign a document saying they get paid first in case of default. 

Greetings,I am stuck and would appreciate some advice on which avenue to take regarding the financing on my next primary residence.

My primary interest in starting real estate investing is house hacking with a duplex.

You live 2 out of 5 years in a property as your primary, then sell the asset. 

The unit has both a primary and a HELOC on it and then a lien from the HOA.