First duplex, already renovated? Or get a fixer upper?

[Brendan L.]

There are duplexes around my area that need a lot of work, but there are a couple that have already been renovated by flippers. They're priced to cashflow modestly with both sides rented out, with annual COC return at least 15% after accounting for property management, capex, and the like. The one I have in mind in particular looks to be one of the nicest, most updated properties in my market right now.

As a newb who isn't particularly handy, I wonder whether I would be better served getting a pre-renovated place to start, rather than a fixer upper that is potentially way way out of code, and trying to manage a contractor to make something nice. The buildings around me are 100+ years old and absolutely no new construction.

Has anyone went with a pre-renovated place and not regretted it as a first way to subsidize your own housing costs with minimal hassle? 

[Jeremy Jackson]

If you're not handy and don't want to fool with managing contractors, I'd definitely recommend starting with something that's rent ready or close to it.  Finding good contractors is a struggle alone.  Just make sure the numbers work for you, don't overpay..