Just be ready for the insurance company to pay off a groundless claim for $10,000 because that is cheaper than fighting it, and then raise your rates.  

Here's the question - Should I work on paying off my current place so that it becomes pure cash flow in ~10 years, or should I save up to purchase a duplex in a cheaper part of the country that I can live in half of and house hack? 

Not that I havent found anything in my budget, but I haven't been able to find a property in an area that I feel safe/comfortable living in.I am starting to think maybe I should change my focus and try to find cheaper SFH where the mortgage payment would be around the same as my rent now (or slightly more).

I only have roughly 30k saved up in my bank account, the homes here cost more than a million..I'm debating if I should invest in cheaper areas.  

. $2 cheaper a square foot.

It may seem the Amazon jobs are solid but with that there are so many other jobs such as start ups and ancillary businesses like hair saloons to restaurants that would be hugely affected if the cycle starts to turn a bit and people start cutting back on hitting their prime buttons for easy convenience and starts buying in bulk and cheaper brands of daily goods.  

You can get in for 3% down which is a lot cheaper than the 20% investors need. 

If not doable anytime soon, sell and buy something cheaper for cash. 

Since it is cheaper with the "discount" they tend to get renter's insurance. 

Deal StatsI am using a HML which of course reduces the profits (i could make 20-30k more with cheaper money).