Meet with "Tenant 2" first and explain that you are owner occupying the property.

You only have to owner-occupy for 1 year for most types of loan products. 

After you live there for a year, you can buy another owner-occupied, so you move out of this, rent yours for $900 and now you bring in $900/month and do it again. 

It would have to be owner-occupied house, not a rental or 2nd home.

We plan to purchase a duplex and owner occupy for a year in hopes of buying a SFH afterward and renting out both sides of the duplex + acquiring additional cash flowing properties.I have an agent, have been analyzing deals and really want to get the ball rolling.

Does anyone think I could get a similar rate to what I have now with cash out refinance (for a non owner occupied rental property.)

Looking for what your experience been with conversions of a multifamily residential (tenant occupied).

One unit is occupied and the other is vacant which is perfect.

This law allows splits up to 4 units, but also requires the owner to occupy for 3 years.

If you haven't transitioned into an LLC I would suggest you do so and also start looking for commercial lending as moving past a 4 plex most lenders wont look at owner occupied options.