What I was told is $6000 a year for tax strategizing and for my situation $3900 to do my tax returns (W2 job, 4 SFHs and 1 multi-unit, co-owned).

I recently started a new job and I am looking to possibly partner with my uncle to purchase a duplex this year.

Nice find!

@Brenden Corder I'm form NC, Lake Lure is beautiful, but Maggie Valley will be more centrally located to more tourist attractions, and Maggie Valley is nice too.

So, I've only had to get my cleaner in a few times.My tenants tend to either be too nice or too scared to bother me with small repairs. 

1) If I rent out 1 or 2 properties, both as long-term rentals, and I do over 750 hours in various jobs related to the rental (property management, maintenance, renovation, marketing, etc), and this is my only job, does this qualify me as a "Real Estate Professional?"  

It's your job as a landlord to pre-screen potential leads (gross income, credit score, evictions or not, etc) and then only schedule showings for those people that meet your screening standards.

Prices are very high so I am not sure how well you can do in our area these days.McCall is nice, but prices are also very high and it is a bit limited on access in the winter.

Buying a fixer seems unreasonable given I have a day job. 

You can do a better job on the screening.