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

The smart ones will defer to the builder when it comes to structural issues.

Investing in Punta Cana might be right for the right kind of buyers (like maybe lifestyle buyers interested in getting a little bit of extra income) but they should make sure they know what they're getting into and don't look at the opportunity with rose-tinted glasses.

Armed with that knowledge, owners try to get their contractor to reduce the price of the job they want done.If you think it through, it's not a smart move.

Fortunately, the OP is smart or lucky that their property still works as an mtr or ltr. 

Is this smart doing this?

And I consider myself a fairly smart person but just trying to run in several directions at once and not going anywhere.

It requires some capital to invest, making smart decisions, and being patient.

@Mark WalkerHe must be a smart guy with a lot of experience!

I had a conversation once with a very smart Dr. who stated that this concept does not exist in all cultures and was/is more prevalent in certain cultures in centuries past.