found $50,000, buy 2 duplexes?

[Susan Scaggs]

Hi, I am completely new at this.  I am a licensed Real estate agent but no real experience.  My husband and I have owned our automotive repair business for 12 years and would like to transition out of it in the next 5 years.  Its a lot of work and stress but cash flows a nice income.  Since we got into it upside down we don't know if we will get much out to retire on in the future.  We are both 51.

So I am inheriting $50,000 next month and have sweaty palms.  I think a RE investment would have the best return. Because of our business, we don't have a lot of time or experience to buy a distressed property and work up from there (unless that's the best idea, then we may try it).  

I found two side by side duplexes here in Northwest Arkansas for $150,000 each. Was thinking of putting 20% down in a 30 year note. Both full brick, built in 2007, stained concrete floors, 1400sf 3bdrm 2 bath each unit and appear to be in excellent condition. Rental income is currently $18,000/year each. I calculated the NOI at $13,000/year each.

With 20% down, a 15 year note would cost $10,800/year.  30 year note would cost $6840.

We don't want to make the same mistakes we made when purchasing our auto business.  So my questions are:

Is this a good start or is there a better way to invest this money?

Try to pay them off in 10 or 12 years or pay the mininum and reinvest earnings in more real estate?

What is the best way to grow this money into early retirement?

Oh, we also are in a $300,000+ house that is getting too big.  We could downsize in the next year or two and pull $100,000 in additional equity...

Any advice would be great!