The ATR requires the lender to establish historical earnings with enough support the income will continue for the next 36mo.

Appraisal must support the purchase price and Rehab amount with an ARV value. 

In another market like Atlanta a couple making a combined $70k can easily support your rent and rental increases each year.

I love doing the accounting myself, but each year it becomes harder and more time-consuming, not the highest and best use of my time.

Also, if you don't have a mentor or community for support as you navigate your first deal, I would suggest looking for that as well!

I am not able to offer much financial support or knowledge regarding strategy.

So this one the City would in no way support the continued duplex use...So the final answer to your above question likely depends on the story, and also likely depends on what the City's preferences might be. 

Hey Joe, First I'm impressed with this community and how supportive it is.

@Anthoney Hanks thank you for the support! 

The "workmanship" that we're seeing, across the board, is nothing short of disgraceful - paint hiding rotten siding, vinyl flooring over rotten sub-floors, "new" shingle roofs over 2 old roofs where the structure can't support it, load-bearing walls removed with no structural replacement, even a swimming pool that was buried.