My plan is to use my VA loan and buy a duplex, as required I will be staying in this property for a year.

The tenant has 100% right to stay.

So I'd check with city code book and see what's required,, all that humidity has to go somewhere,, and inside isn't where it belongs.Even if it was a private home,, the amount of moisture staying inside is bad for your house structure,, mold issues, paint peeling, rot, over time it will become a bigger problem

I researched the hot tub option.First I found out that the 98% of the competition didn't have them and may place already stays full without one.Second, I talked to some people that have them and they said they wish they didn't have one or didn't need one to be competitive.If you do you have you need to have a contract with a sauna company to do the maintenance to minimize your liability.I would the a pool would have the same issues applied to it.So if you don't need one of these to be competitive them skip the headache.

Showers have mixing valves and await electrician to be able to add full green board.That "rough plumbing work" will become an issue in the future, but stay tuned for that!

OK,This is a little obtuse but just stay with me.

I have yet to meet an investor who started in the small property space and "chose" to stay there.

I currently have an operating AirBnB in Colorado and looking to do a vacation this winter, staying in some AirBnBs while on the trip.  

Be consistent and you will stay there."

That may mean doing something that may make you uncomfortable such as calling them directly if you can get a number or knocking on their door, but you can at least start any discussion with "I live in this property and would like to stay there" so as not to sound like some vulture circling like other investors may appear to them.