Depending on the exact location of your duplex, this could be an ideal opportunity to rent by the room, particularly given the area's demand from hospital systems and Case Western Reserve University students who are always on the lookout for housing.

If you’re looking for the sea coast and a quintessential New England town, you’ve got Portsmouth.

We'd looked at a lot of beaches in this general area (Southern East Coast), and found it to be more affordable to get into. 

I don't know the law specifically in your area but the ability to control your property is over (at least on the west coast). 

I am looking to buy properties in the west coast or in Denver, Arizona, or Kansas areas.

There were hundreds of stories like this across the western WA area.

Lucie, and Palm Coast; however, I am also very interested in learning and exploring opportunities in additional markets.

The only bank I have talked to is Western State Bank, but looking for two more quotes.I know what questions to ask, approximately how much I have in equity, and more than ready to invest more.

There are a few larger players like Western Alliance and Axos who advertise and do it, but they want to see a much larger portfolio

If you are open to any location and have that much cash, I'd look somewhere a bit closer like SLC metro, Reno, Vegas, Arizona, or other growing markets in the western half of the US over Columbus.