Some want to buy a duplex and live in one half and rent the other half.[2] Once you think you know what you want to do--educate yourself on it 100%.[3] Get to know locals who are doing what you want to do.

My wife was renting it for about a year & half prior to marriage, and once I I moved in, started talking to owners to see if they would sell.

Half of my properties have come to me by word of mouth because I'm constantly talking about real estate with everyone.

Half the time when I have deductions, the tenant didn't even believe there would be deductions.

While the carpet may have been in good shape it does have a depreciating lifespan and at best you are half way through considering 5 years.  

The easiest path and fastest route to participate in remote markets has to be through Syndication.Good Luck,JoeAnthem Investing

They're easiest to find on Meetup in most cases and you'll get automatic updates on when they're happening.

@Alex Bekeza @Will Gaston @Andrew Postell got an updated appraisal (89.7k)and it was half of my private appraisal $161k.

I would recommend you live in the half you want to renovate, like you suggested.

$1200/year profit is under half of one percent NOI.