I have little confidence in turnkey providers, deals are already hard to come by, if they take another 20% cut before.. much better to buy a property from an owner that is in good condition.

It would be like if someone prepared to sell by painting to create fresh visual interest, but chose fuscia and lime green...those colors would certainly catch the eye but I'd never claim that they overdid the curb appeal by painting with too much visual interest.

@Colin Ford recommend getting experience with your RI duplex before going OOS.You should DIY manage the unit next door, so you LEARN about property management, the goog, the bad and the ugly.Then you'll be so much better prepared to invest OOS!

•Tenants demand prompt, high-quality service and without caring about cost •Vendors seek to earn as much compensation for their work as possible.Balancing these needs requires thoughtful stewardship, strong communication, and a commitment to fairness.

I agree with you that they would usually be better off buying in A and B neighborhoods unless they live locally and know what they’re getting into.

I'd like to understand which is the better option between these two and the reasoning behind it. 

A quad will cash flow much better than a duplex and that makes it less risky in my opinion.

., I believe the heart of Jaron's comment is: in general, you will not find much better deals at auction.  

@Ryan Blake These investments can be secured, or at least better secured if papered correctly.

Assuming the property is worth much more than they paid for it don’t let them give it to you.