If it’s doable financially I’d recommend the duplex.

Avoiding accessive PM fees (personally I recommend most people self-manage)These will eat away at your ROI.

If you are looking for proper guidance from someone that has house hacked quite a few times and has the knowledge and experience to help get you going in the right direction, I recommend reaching out to @Josh Green.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Many experienced mentors in this group can help guide you in the right direction.I highly recommend saving as much as possible and setting aside a hedge fund for financial security.

@Delroy WatsonI recommend connecting with @Jonathan Klemm to get an estimate.

My only recommendation is you go with someone local to where you are.

I'd recommend having enough to close on the deal + rehab + $5k in reserve as a minimum. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Make sure to communicate your BRRRR strategy with your insurance agent so they can recommend the right coverage for each phase.I learned this lesson the hard way: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/853/topics/1222933-my-b...