My wife has a strong W-2 but I still need to be able to make some money.

And make sure that all items necessary for you to get the best rate possible from your carrier (like 4 point inspections, roof attachment points, pool enclosures etc) are present or available.One nasty little factor that can't be helped is that every time you buy a property for more than than last owner paid - you will have a tax bump due to re-assessment. 

Will it be enough to make up for the lack of income growth, buyer sentiment, unknown economic plan for after the election and the high valuations of properties?

Is this purely a market appreciation deal that you're meant to hold onto 10+ yrs for it to make sense on paper?

I’ve been making posts about this first duplex we are closing on.

They will expedite the process and make it much smoother. 

Insurance is the most important thing as he said.I wouldn't make any decisions on this until I got with a solid real estate INVESTOR CPA.

I’m also going to make a blanket statement for every lender and investor out there who isn’t quite understanding of the lenders and work they do.

How might this decision impact the overall investment strategy and long-term profitability?

Make sure you have your paperwork in place though to prevent ill-feelings or misunderstandings.