@Andrew Schrader - If renting a house for $1,000 or house hacking a duplex with an effective rent of $200 were my ONLY options, I would buy the duplex. 

We signed a new one year lease that went into effect 90 days later.

(This has the nice effect of making them feel like they are one of the favorites, regardless of the whether they are or are not.)3.

Is it cost effective? 

I do a lot of SEC 8 and wrote a blog on the perceptions vs realities because I got so tired of typing it over and over every time someone asked.  

A lot of forum members are very knowledgeable in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate sales, wholesaling, flipping, rentals, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.Discounts on some products and services are offered to BP members: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proIf you haven’t been to it already, you might want to check out the BP blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.

A lot of forum members are very knowledgeable in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate sales, wholesaling, flipping, rentals, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.If you haven’t been to it already, you might want to check out the BP blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.

This was suggested in a blog post by a company that markets services to landlords. 

In effect you have tied up your cash to BUY cash flow.

There are lenders specializing in these types of loans to retirement account, here is a list:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/2810/50272-list-of-non-recourse-lenders-for-self-directged-ira-and-401k