I then decided on finding a zero-money down traditional hard money lender.

If the seller(s) makes enough income to utilize most or all of the tax deduction, they can often net more from the tax deduction, combined with whatever amount of cash the buyer pays at closing, than they would from a traditional sale to a regular all-cash buyer.

But ...Most investing is about cash flow and ROI and they blow away traditional ROI with what is happening today.

My ultimate goal is to put my blue collar traditions behind me and build true wealth through multi family residential ownership.

My current property has it all rolled into one payment through a bank with a traditional loan. 

But this duplex is probably the only traditional mortgage we'll be able to get with our debt-to-income ratio (that puts it right around 43%).  

@Prachel C. you've got a lot of great answers already.Let me caution you, you want to make absolutely sure that your extra efforts end up making you more money than a traditional landlord would make.

@Ashley WishinskiI would have to say the only thing holding me back is lending, I am only 24(still building good credit) I don't have a normal job, I train horses and give lessons so I am  self employed, not something traditional lenders are to crazy about I have found out.

The only issue is are they willing to deal with investors or are they only interested in the traditional transaction process.

After that's said and done, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to refinance it through a traditional lender.