People have already provided great input, so I will touch on your comment your wife said.You really need to sit down with her and explain the short term and long term goals.

Have not done any business with them but did have a sit down with the owners last June when I made a brief visit to Cleveland .. and was impressed with their knowledge definitely seasoned players in the space.

As the zoning sits now we believe that only 2 of the 6 buildings are in a flood zone (instead of 3 out of 6), but they would need full replacement coverage of $500,000 a building. 

You can invest your money in stock and sit back and literally do nothing and get some reasonable returns.

If you sit vacant for one month, that's a loss of $2800 (mortgage, utilities, lawn mowing, etc.) and it would take 35 months of $80 cash flow to earn it back.

A 2 hour sit down with a real estate CPA can lay out a very good path for you, and  you will have $24,000 more left in your bank account.  

I don't recall following the group to begin with.I hope you can help.

Where I lack understanding is at what point do you start making money for example you buy a duplex lets say it was 300k the monthly mortgage is 2,500 each renter pays 1,500 thatd 500 cash flow which is I guess “profit “ but as the landlord you're responsible for major repairs such as but not limited to roofs, plumbing issues, electrical issues that all can be expensive you would have to have money saved so that 500 cash flow is profit but wouldnt it just have to sit in a bank account? 

That might mean you need to sit on it 1-2-3 years before you are allowed to rent again.

Better to let the money sit under your mattress.....