I have recently been to Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/Twentynine Palms area twice in the last two months as I just love it there and am considering buying property to have a second home.

And even better you can stay so close to home for your first investments. 1.5 hours isn't bad, and if you need to make that drive for a day or even grab a cheap hotel for a night or two that's pretty nice.Best of luck.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases.

You can even do a live in BRRRR and refinance after two years. 

You have two issues here.

For example, recently we got a 4 because 'our closet was two small' and pool maintenance came at 1 pm. 

From your tenant's perspective; you purchased the duplex, jacked up his rent, and moved a bunch of people in next door.

I have worked for two large MF operators and one had it in house and one did not and the one who had it in house always second guessed why they were doing it, it was costing them more than what it would cost it to outsource it, but they were stuck in their ways (and liked the "fees") they were generating even though they could have done it for less outsourcing it.

I put a small amount down on my first two places and got very lucky with market timing post-COVID. 

I own property in Grass Valley with two dwellings: a long-term rental and an ADU that I'm currently living in and renovating.