I thought the reward justified the risk, but it appears one may not preserve my investment (time will tell).

It allowed me to preserve my personal savings while still securing the capital I needed to get the project going.

Buy and HODLing will always reign the best course of action; sell preservation mechanism physical assets on rallies due to turbulence, and buy back in times of peace and ease.

You're on the right thought process to preserve you $ and build wealth, a duplex is a good start but I may have a better real estate suggestion that could build wealth faster while doing a house hack. 

Either way I'd cross over the Oct 2024 occupied period so I could preserve the possibility of tax free gain.

Many investors also appreciate the ability to use leverage in real estate deals.Real estate can be a strong strategy for preserving capital because of its tax advantages and growth potential.

With a warranty, there is red tape and delay in getting a repair made.With a vacation rental, your first priority is an immediate repair, to preserve guest satisfaction and the rental. 

I’ve enjoyed hosting short-term rentals in the past and would love to share this home with others, as I’ve put a lot of effort into preserving it.

These options ensure you pay for the roof after taking ownership, preserving the tax benefits.

Also, put any repairs pointed out by the inspector into the following categories (by priority)1) Health & Safety - to avoid tenant injury and potential lawsuits2) Property Preservation - to stop further costlier damages3) Government Required - city inspection repairs & S84) Marketing Negative Impact - who'll rent a house with purple bedrooms?