I would guess just based off of the info given that your best bet for wealth building is to go low down payment in NC in a great area (Im down here, if you have any questions shoot me a dm) and hold the NJ property.

Betting this market is flat for 5-10 years to absorb the 50% inflation from Covid $. 

If you’re looking to build a portfolio and save cash, Property A might be your best bet.

I've progressed from owning fixer upper duplexes in the north end of Winnipeg where I would do the renos myself late into the night; to purchasing large apartment buildings to acquiring properties in 13 different cities across Canada and the United States. to now buying office buildings and institutional-grade grocery-anchored retail centers leased to national tenants and publicly traded companies like Walmart, Safeway, and Loblaws.Before 27, I achieved lean FIRE, all thanks to the inspiration and fundamental concepts from the BP podcast and the incredible people I've met along the way in this entrepreneurial journey by betting on myself, committing to lifelong learning, and nurturing an insatiable curiosity.If someone like me, who barely made it through high school and would be considered "unlikely to succeed" by my peers, can do it, so can anyone reading this.

It is just safer to start something like this in an environment where you have a better chance of succeeding. 

You just gave in your example above a return of 10% and I am telling you you would bet the entire 10% versus the insurance return which would be barely 4.25% based on your own calculations. 

Welcome to BP - think you are definitely starting in the right place - house hack duplex to start the real estate investing journey should be a solid bet - don't need a huge amount of capital either if you buy smart

You bet @Dan Guenther!

I would bet money that the licensing agency requires in their rules that they must disclose in writing to the client every conflict of interest. 

While that is the law, nobody redeems....I'll bet 1% redeem, so I would just count on never getting that.