I really know very little about financing, however.As far as the ideal price for a duplex...that depends.

Do people ever just want to strictly investment SFR New Constitution I was a Managing Broker who acquired  Land and smaller parcels that could be developed into small 10 Home communities as well as tear downs for custom Home Builders as well as a National Builder whose smaller division handled tear downs and  or high end Flips. 

We ultimately came up with a finance and investment strategy for the area to secure property and develop a track record. 

Ideally single family homes.

@Eddie Starr Seems you're developing a great process to tapping into funds.

We have to obtain a hotel license for each property and collect sales and tourist development taxes.

I mean, what happens if you have a website, even one targeting a specific city, and someone contacts you from outside your ideal area?

If you're looking for short term property appreciation, it may not be the ideal time to look. 

There's a moratorium on building multi family in my town that was instituted to stop an enormous multi family development.

The area is doing a lot of development, in what looks to be a very desirable area.