I looked for a multi family building that met my criteria: location-safe to walk alone, 3-4  units, 2beds each, and under $300k (the cheaper the better) I wished for a yard, garage, fireplace, more than one bathroom, and close to a lake. 

Everything was new including the bathroom you can't see.Living room with all new can lights, fireplace, and you can see the peninsula we built in the kitchen.Everything brand new in the kitchen.  

Den had fireplace, desk area and surround sound!

Donald, The reasons we are looking at a duplex specifically is one tenant is less headache for us as this will be our first investment property, the lenders we are pre-approved with are only interested in a duplex nothing larger for first time buyers programs, and our city is loaded with side by side duplexes.Just convincing my wife to buy an investment property took a lot of Chip and Joanna Gaines books, and the agreement that it would be "cute" as some of the duplexes are brick Tudors with wood floors, fireplaces, and in up and coming older neighborhoods. 

I love the floors, bathrooms are gorgeous, fireplace is beautiful - all very well done stuff!

So when I called him to discuss he said that he left the scrap wood because he thought I'd burn it in the fireplace...uh no, its treated wood!  

First, watch an episode or 2 of vacation house for free on HGTV.They take all your holding cost; mortgage, insurance, utilities, PM, etc.Determine the peak rental weeks and calculate how much they need to rent each week of the prime rental season to break even.You can bump this number up or rent for other events to do better than break even.For instance my Lake house is near Clemson University so I get top dollar for football game weekends and graduation.I also get renters in the winter.If you added a hot tub and have a fire place you may extend your peak season.Also check other properties in your area on homeaway or VRBO to see what the going rates are for a similar property to see if the numbers make sense.John

The main level has carpet and stone floors, with a formal dining room, living room, and a family room featuring a fireplace.

My fireplace wasn't that bad after I remodeled it in 2010 but we got bored by the stone ledger look against the flat wall, so I decided to bring it into 2018..

Gas log fireplace.