Thank you everyone for the kind words and encouraging sentiments.

Who would be interested in seeing a market outlook/sentiment survey of the Bigger Pockets community?

I echo Xin's sentiment.

My sentiments exactly lol.

@Jason Chen I think you nailed the sentiment of the other posters. 2011-2015 Duplex's in solid neighborhoods could be found in the $50k range, particularly in the midsize cities of the midwest.

I think most people would see it as trash, but I don't want to open myself up to "oh that was a family heirloom with sentimental value..."

I don't think I can answer things any better than what has already been said but I'll echo a few sentiments.  

Sounds like the numbers work well on either option, I agree with the sentiments that $50,000 is a huge swing in potential sale price. 

I've been active as a buy-and-hold investor in Birmingham for an year now, and will echo @Rob Drum's sentiment that Birmingham is an excellent investment market.

She wants to hold on to it for sentimental reasons and not convert it into a rental.