From listening to a fair amount of episodes from the BP Podcast and reading a couple of books, I am thinking my best option to get started would be by using an FHA Loan because of the low down payment.

My state already has laws that protect people from aggressive dogs, there is absolutely no need to bring breed into this. 

There are standard procedures and traps you won't be familiar with.Also, there would be absolutely no advantage to not using one, even if you didn't need one.

We financed this home at 80% LTV through a local bank (here is where I would have saved my capital and gone with FHA or another low money down strategy had I had the foresight, but alas, "it is what it is" as they say).My plan is to eventually use 1031 to trade up to 8+ unit buildings, then parlay that into either apartments, mixed use, or commercial down the line.Going forward: House hacking the duplex is clearly not the ideal situation with a toddler and a newborn.

There are plenty of scams that promise low interest and fees for an upfront charge, and then take your money and run.

In that case, I'd expect that at least the realtor will have a clue, and not price the property way low.

An exception would be more class A or B apartments where they are newer built in the last 10 years or so and rents are really high.So if you had say 40 units at 1,500 a door that is 60k a month gross potential whereas if you had 80 units at 400 a month low income tenants that is only 32,000.

If you have enough equity you might want to do the same as rates are super low.

I'd hold off, or set your price low enough that you'd have to go for it.  

@Cary Ferguson Jr guess it depends on how low rents dropped during that recession, but based on what rents dropped to last time during the recession in this same area..I think I'd be fine. that's what I find so odd??