New to all of this and I am looking in to buying a duplex in the Portland area as my first rental property.

I am reposting this questions usually I get a answer within just a few short hours.

If you're looking for the first or next house hack this year, then you're probably doing a lot of research on areas, strategies, layouts, etc.

James and his people who manage the program are nice and give basic sales and negotiation advice but not much that moves the needle in any situation.

It's not just about the numbers – it's about creating win-win scenarios where both parties can sleep well at night.3 principles I've learned after 4 years in real estate investing:1) Transparency builds trust. 

This reduces my monthly payment by ~$100 a month.Am I correct to think that I am essentially paying $3500 for this refinance?

Why aren't more bigger/experienced investors doing this?

I am not familiar with this at all.

Any tips on how to identify markets for long term rental income?

I would say, when you’re purchasing properties in another country, it’s important to visit there several times and do your research to find out which types of properties have the best returns.