If you’re comfortable with the process and local regulations, new construction might yield higher equity, but for simplicity, an existing duplex is safer.

Hoping to find a local community to get involved with, maybe through Bigger Pockets. 

you might also have-local registration fee or business license or similar-shared utilities that the owner is responsible for

Hey Manny I am local to salt lake city would love to connect

You could arrange to have your cleaners accept the deliveries at the property or hire a local handyman to do same and even assemble furniture.

They’ll have insight into the local market and can help prevent you from buying a deal that looks good on paper but isn’t ideal. 3. 

The seller would have to be paying us to take the property if we wanted to make that amount.We make use of the tools here on BP to help frame out a deal as well as using our knowledge of the local market to gauge what a property will be worth renovated. 

I would farm out my local friends/baby sisters to help do showings if a vacant unit arrises.

Are you looking for properties in your local market? 

your comment around "approvals will be easy to get" gives me pays if you've not done this type of project before, I understand your logic, and I don't know your local municipality but it always seems to me that no matter how easy we think a project or approval is going to be, something always comes up.