I was thinking it may be closer to a "wash" or, maybe only slightly more only bc w/ a duplex at least we aren't paying for two exterior wall materials for two sfh?

Tanner promotes creating personal retirement accounts through investments in assets that generate passive income, providing more control over one's financial future.

Preferably contact us by email as we are not allow to self promote. 

.- Landlord costs skyrocketing:      - Insurance: +30% (thanks, climate change)     - Utilities: +30%     - Property taxes, materials, maintenance all up     - Even lawn care and cleaning services cost moreThe article argues these costs are being passed to tenants, not just padding profits.

Under the IRS rules, a person  qualifies as a real estate professional if: (1) more than one-half of the personal services the taxpayer performs in trades or businesses during the tax year are in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates, AND.....(2) hours spent providing personal services in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates total more than 750 during the tax year.Like @Greg Scott and @Russell Brazil mentioned above, I don't believe that you would qualify as a REPS, but if you are going to try it, make sure you document it very well (i.e. with some kind of proof, like time cards, mileage forms, and/or receipts, etc.) so that just in case you do get audited, you at least have something to provide to the IRS agent. 

I'm thinking 7 years + to trade equity, 12-15 years for material wealth generation. 

Sure, you don't want to work with the part timers or the ones that are truly bad (there are many) but some are in the bottom 90% because they are not good at promoting themselves, yet they are very good agents.

It wasn't always smooth sailing – I've learned a lot from my mistakes and am happy to share those learnings to help others avoid them.Feel free to ask me anything about structuring subcontractor relationships, ordering materials, or keeping budgets on track.

The colors & housing-materials that you described above are a "sign of the times". 

We really can't tell you anything based on the information offered, it depends on local laws, costs, rents, materials, permits, etc.....