Congrats on having a good mind set at a young age as well as being a skilled carpenter.

I'm not aware of being qualified with commercial either.Thanks for the info btw.

I'm sure you can leverage your accounting skill set extensively in the real estate space. 

yea we have alot of money in low cost index funds as of now. they work great in between saving for a property with cash.I've though about leverage but between the p and I cap ex maitnance vacancy and all the other stuff it is cheaper to buy the condo with cash then up and sell it when I can buy the duplex. taxes are high here for homes on there own lot the condo is closer to 1 percent property taxes were as single family homes and duplexes and such are closer to 2 percent to 2.2 percent so that is a big reason why it makes more sense as of now.yea just this first duplex I want to pay cash for. after that I have no problem with leverage. but if we live in it it's gotta be paid for it creates a very stable rock so if the wind blows hard I am protected and have no worrysit really helps ease my anxiaty disorder and will prevent a stroke at a early age. a large reason as well is we cant qualify for a morgage that large.

If you want to be a tenant and get all the rights of a tenant, just contact the landlord, explain the situation and ask to apply or at least sublease while your BF is away... unless you don't qualify, I'm sure he/she would be perfectly fine just continuing it with you vs. having a vacancy. 

Pay attention to people , who mention both the negatives and positives .And while you save and build money , I would suggest you to build your emotional wealth as well , because  the whole investing is 75% mindset and 25% learning initially , once you do few deals it will become 90% mindset and 10% skills .Please also note that - while you do your research you will come across many many "gurus" , who are unethical and fraudulent .

Incentives for referring a qualified friend or family member to lease one of our vacant units?

Hiring the right people and managing these people is a skill; and a skill essential to investing out of state.

The ratios turned out in my favor, but in lot of cases either you are too well off, or you make too little to qualify. 

@Terre Brizzolara what Gomer means is that you still have to have income to qualify for an FHA loan even if the rental income covers all the expenses plus.