Such as what's a good benchmark for cash flow on those types of properties.

So maybe the #'s don't look as appealing, but their is certainly demand and with high occupancy rates, that can offset being less then 1% which seems to be the benchmark.

I am a real estate agent/investor with Benchmark myself, but instead of recommending myself I can give you an awesome referral. 

It's called a 1031 exchange which refers to Section 1031 of the IRC which states: “No gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment, if such property is exchanged solely for property of like-kind which is to be held either for productive use in a trade or business or for investment.”To be clear, there is a process and time limits on when benchmarks need to be accomplished to qualify.

If predictable appreciation is in the cards, that changes the equation but I would still recommend bench-marking it relative to other investment properties.If you are willing to house-hack as you mentioned with the duplex, that is an excellent way to get started in REI.  

I'd recommend calculating your future expected returns for both types of properties that you are buying, include appreciation, and bench mark them relative to one another.  

You always use common sense first to set the benchmark for unreasonableness.

Revenue share above benchmarks for each. 

The benchmark for me would be what I would have to pay in fees and interest if I borrowed on the open market. 

For example, do you think a typical income for an agent in Tacoma, Washington or Ann Arbor, Michigan will be proportionally higher than an agent in Missoula, MT, in regards to population size (for this discussion’s purposes the benchmark was an annual income of $48k and up)?