I also don't love that in a market where buyers are already having affordability issues, especially where i am (Orange County, CA) where most 30-somethings are already struggling to piece together a minimum down, they will likely be slapped with an additional cost in paying their own agent. even at 2%, on an entry level $1m home, that's an extra $20k most don't have.IMO, this just made our affordability situation worse. and i don't see it reducing home prices, i see it benefitting the seller to pocket that extra 3%-ish at a time of record equity building over the last few years. 

So in his mind you need to put high end finishes in a duplex versus basic finishes in a detached single family, but then this becomes an apples to oranges comparison.The only real way to know is to have plans drawn up and get actual bids based on those plans.  

If anyone is looking for contracting services in the Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, give our company Reliable Construction & Doors a look.

You are comparing buying a primary residence vs investing and this is an apples to oranges comparison.

Some of the towns & cities where our investors do well: Wallingford, Milford, Cheshire, Middletown, Cromwell, North Haven, Woodbridge, Orange, Shelton, Watertown, Newtown, Branford, Bethel, and Guilford to name just a few.For 2 bedroom rentals: Good school systems may be an issue for some, especially for single parents but also proximity to employment comes into play as well so it adds places like parts of Hamden, New Haven, West Haven,  Bristol, East Haven, Stratford, Northford, GlastonburyFor apartments - studio & 1's: All of above plus Derby, Ansonia, SeymourWe don't go past Glastonbury as a rule so I can't comment on Hartford and north.

Areas I like that I would consider C+ to B which should give decent cash flow are Orange Park, South Westside area near 295, Murray Hill area, San Jose, eastern area of Mandarin, East Arlington (east of 295), various pockets of the southside around University Blvd, and some others I circled in the red areas.

(this is for all 2022 buyers, needing to sell).This is why in the other thread when people say amass cash then buy on the fall, I mean that happened in the GR it's totally apples to oranges here.

@Michael Lambert I am in the Jacksonville area, I live in Orange Park, which is just outside. 

The only problem with that plan is that I'm located in Orange County and I'd imagine most properties out here are well outside my affordability. 

Orange Park has had next to no new supply since the 80s/90s because of barriers to entry in the physical barriers around the submarket as well as the low allowable density for new construction.