I've heard that 4-plexes are the "money makers" but with our current budget, duplexes seem more affordable - I am a bit conservative and don't feel comfortable putting "too many eggs in one basket".

I think you can actually return a better profit if you are willing to stick around to the end and see the fruits of your labor.  

Low hanging fruit syndrome. 

Sure, great deals ares out there here in Raleigh, they just aren't the low hanging fruit that they can be in other markets.

Start with turning over the low value fruit.

They are not, they have just lower hanging fruit that is much jucier.What most agents realize is that it is much easier to help a family buy a new $500,000 home and sell their $300,000 home - as opposed to working with an investor to buy a $80,000 property.

I would say take title in a trust held by an llc to protect your personal and other holdings.  1 egg...1 basket.  

Everyone wants to make money, but we also want to pick just the low hanging fruit, if we have to climb the tree, it better be worth it, in my neck of the woods, 100k in 6 months, that should translate to 50k in my pocket after double taxation and everything.

It goes a long way to absorb as much as possible and not put all your eggs in one basket. 

Potatoes grow underground, which means you can’t see if the plant is bearing fruit.