Are there any absolute pitfalls to avoid when it comes to electriic?  

Watch out for lease options in TexasThey have to be done right, there are penalties are severe if you don't@John JacksonCoaches Texans in lease-option to avoid the pitfalls

I am new to this process and wanted to see what the formal steps would be if I were to pay all cash for the property and forgo a realtor - hoping someone in the BP community has come across this an can advise me on any of the pitfalls when closing a deal without an agent:)Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Things I should be mindful and any potential pitfalls to avoid?  

The property manager is trying to act as the facilitator and sent me an agreement saying they would try to get a 3% fee from the sellers estate but if they won't pay it, the buyer would be on the hook for the fee.The property manager asking for this fee is in exchange is going to show the property to prospective buyers and be an intermediary between buyer and executor.Does this seem customary and legitimate, and are there any potential pitfalls or things to look out for?

What are some real pitfalls here?

Are you awarte of the pitfalls and can you refinance it quickly if that is required?

My idea of investing was to have fun, and not make this a miserable experience by taking on too much and potentially running into major pit falls. 

House hacking is a great way for many people to get started, but it is not free of pitfalls and it is only a start to investing, not an end in itself.Take a look at the Find Members section to find other BP members in your area.

It is very likely going to be more efficient and cost effective for me to leave it as a duplex, but I was wondering if anyone had experience doing this and what pitfalls they had, costs, headaches, etc.