How many deals have you done YTD and what is your goal?

It's a balance of cashflow and wealth accumulation.One of the goals is to have tenants pay as much of your cost-of-ownership as possible (loans, taxes, insurance, etc.)In high-cost areas, any Class A or B property you buy will usually negative cashflow for the first 3-5 years, until rents rise enough to cover the negative cashflow + rising taxes & insurance.Investing OOS increases your risks because you may not know the market and you can't check on everything/everyone all the time.If you move forward with your buddies, HIGHLY recommend creating a solid Partnership Agreement!

It is a lofty goal with no easy path to accomplishment, but what you describe seems unlikely to accomplish the goal.Note most people on this site are RE investors.  

My goal is to flip at least 3 properties in the year 2025 turning my investment of $50k to $100K or above.

Our end goal is to be in a position where we can be very selective and choose the clients and properties we work with so that doesn't happen.

Your goals change.

My goal of refinancing was simply lowering our monthly spending to reallocate towards future investments.

If your friend is more of a Youtuber, turn him on to Erin Spradlin's MTR channel.

I’m looking to house hack in Tucson, Arizona, and have made offers on a few duplexes with the goal of living in one unit and renting out the other.

Once you're ready, create a goal (e.g., "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it.