If you can put 3-5% down on a multifamily you may be able to move forward with an FHA loan, if you are not willing to live in the property or if the property is out of state you will probably have to save up much more. 

I save time during the day to talk to BP Nation members.I love this stuff!!

I'd continue to save money while learning, building a network, and searching for a great deal.

We have good, not great credit, and a decent amount of savings that we're hoping to continue to increase.

I would do this if it meant saving enough on purchase price to justify the seasoning period, the interest rate risk, and I still had adequate reserves to cover costs and expenses.However if you aren't able to see real savings on our has price then you should finance it and use Heloc for down payment only.

Saves you both from any negative feelings or fallout if the two of you just "waited it out."

Your biggest challenge, in my opinion ( and what I am currently facing now) is the amount of money you have saved and coming in as well as being young. 

Talking to them about pulling a permit to approve the work already done might let them save a bit of control and you get a legal two property building.

Such plans are purely a means to diversify your retirement savings and allow for investment opportunities beyond the stock market. 

My guess is that savings could probably be worth a few years of rental income?