We do not have much at all saved up for a down payment and are looking at areas in the south because of the low cost/medium rent.

Sooooo I reduced rent by 1/2 for May-Aug (which equals to 2 months of free rent).

In 46220, 2 bedrooms avg $1,600 in rent. 3 beds for for an avg of $1,985.

I’m considering buying a duplex and renting out one half while my girlfriend and I attend college.

Property ask price: $486k but rent income is $4800($1200/unit).

The state is Florida.I did not consider this first mortgage an issue because I was simply going to live rent and mortgage free in this property myself, rent bedrooms, make good money and recoup my investment in short time (netting 4k income per month if you count not having to pay my current rent).

That article references California.2nd, I believe it's a misinterpretation of the new California security deposit law which limits security deposits to 1 months rent.

One is the value add situation, you might be in a situation where the values for rents are upside down.

Should I sell (use the money to buy other rentals) our current primary residence in Tampa or rent it out?

The tenants love her, she stays on top of maintenance, has implemented upgrades to improve the property and drive rent increases (much to my dismay, LOL), organizes fun themed events with catered food for tenants, manages evictions and oversees the building's Section 8 program.