One deals with just basic stuff like plumbing or odd jobs if I'm not available, the other does appliances and anything where I want a half decent job.Then you have your contractors, AC company, plumber, electrician.

I would personally save up cash and try to buy a duplex, so you can live in one half and rent the other.

Option 1 seems like the clear path toward lowest cost and easiest growth, but just making sure I'm not missing anything.

A pitch man is going need some really good hype to sell to draw people in, it's most common that these gurus throw out spin on some aspect that is not fully disclosed, like half truths.

The easiest way to do this is not to pay for stored materials unless they are on your property.  

This is the place to be for learning about real estate investing.We (my wife and I) are both Australians and have been living in California for two and a half years now.

We want to buy a duplex, live in one half and rent the other.

My name is Matt Evans, and I'm a new entrepreneur currently spending half the year in North Carolina and half in Florida (I'm only 43, so I don't yet have quite enough grey hair to pass as a typical snowbird, though it's coming). 

Well I was away for half a day and seems everyone was busy posting!

I'm currently in the initial phases of talking with the owner, but here is what I know so far:Rents are about half of market...owner is aware of this.