The last thing I would want is to freeze myself from growing by 'retiring' and needing every dime of cashflow to pay for my life expenses.

@Ricardo Meza A more professional contractor will cover that, pinching dime contractor will only hope that you don't know what you're doing.

Think twice about every little nickel and dime.

For a startup, consider getting agent, then broker status for your self to reduce employee costs.Marketing a PM as "We care as much as you do" should go a L O N G way for you.May I suggest, clients HATE nickle & dime fees that strip their profits unknowingly. 

When I was a contractor, I would often times bid on a dozen jobs before getting one and I never charged a dime.

Further, its unlikely I will EVERY collect a dime from you after you leave.In reality, I wouldn't even give you the two year lease. 

One principle I've learned here is to buy with the idea that my property won't appreciate one dime. 

Back to duplexes - what i've seen on MLS lately seems like they are a dime a dozen.

If you put every dime you have into acquiring the property you won't have cash to handle the inevitable hiccups that occur with rentals.

This way I can make some money without really have to spend a dime of my own money and seems like the safest and easiest way to make money.OrShould I wholesale a property?