In order to accomplish this you can make having a vacant unit a stipulation of your purchase, or if there is a tenant on a month to month lease, you can give them notice to vacate when you take over. since the terms of the loan state you must INTEND to occupy, you are typically safe if something happens as long as you have proof you are making a good faith effort to get one unit vacant and move in. that being said, if all leases do not expire until next year, good luck convincing the loan broker you are going to move in. best bet in that case would eb to ask current owner to deliver with one vacant unti.

I sat down with my wife and we put together a list of about 8 different personal and business goals that we wanted to accomplish by the end of 2017 and a plan that would help us get there. 

I am not trying to discourage you, only to help guide you in the best way to accomplish your ultimate goal. 

In hindsight I probably could have just approached a bank initially and accomplished the same thing. 

It would give me a sense of accomplishment to get it rented and manage it effectively.

I've personally wholesaled, done traditional transactions personally and representing, accomplished seller financed and hard money.

One strategy to accomplish this goal is to purchase a duplex along with my parents.

I'm currently working to convert one of my rental properties into a duplex.I have worked in construction for 10 plus years and feel I have a good grasp on what needs to be accomplished.

We would need more info on what your current rate/term is, and what you're considering refinancing to, as well as your goals (what you're intending to accomplish by refinancing) in order to give more specific advice.

We usually have a presenter in the beginning (10-15 minutes) then each person gets a couple minutes to discuss where they are as investors, what their goals were since the last meeting, if they accomplished those goals, and any asks that they have for the group.