There is simply no substitute for going there yourself and driving through (and walking) through the area.

Short term rentals are a lot of work, so if you want more freedom, do a long term rental.Having a house that is paid for goes a long way to financial freedom.

This option would require assembling a local team as I'm considering forgoing a property manager.D) Invest in a Better Maryland Area: The goal would be to find a property with higher appreciation potential, though I'm aware that the cash flow might not match what I'm currently achieving.Given the unique circumstances of my current investment—significant appreciation, a specific tenant base, and a low mortgage rate—I'm weighing these options carefully.

If the answer is not a resounding yes I take a minute and re-evaluate what I am doing.Once you have for some people 7 figure wealth and others 8 figure wealth you let off the gas and start enjoying more fruits of your labor as you get older and time becomes more and more precious. ( Dust in the wind ) song is very real (not another minute will your dollars buy).

Cash Flow: Making investments for future growth sometimes entails forgoing current cash flow.

-I’m starting to see that when the market gets hot then new investors start going to high crime areas and convincing themselves that the market is Appreciating by saying the next door house is selling for more, forgoing the fact that the buyer for that house is a newbie with more money and less knowledge, those are the guys that are stuck with properties that they don’t need at the next recession, (a good example might be Newark, Irvington, in Northern NJ.

Forgoing protections like appraisal and inspection contingencies can quickly turn your dream home into a nightmare experience. 

I follow the spending advice in Set For Life and How To Invest In Real Estate, which is (paraphrased heavily by me) as follows: Don't forgo spending money on things that you really want, just know the costs.

The reason for going into SFH to duplex conversion is to generate more income to make positive cashflow rental properties.

Maybe forgoing some of your deductions one year could really open doors for you.