Im guessing each state is a little different. also, though it is always complicated, what is the general attitude towards going this route and owning a duplex instead of a single family home as one's first house?

If MLS is one of your acquisition strategies then go further and make another 12 or maybe 20, if the market gets complicated then the effort will have to duplicate.

Taxes are a bit more complicated because of the duel side, but just keep track of everything and find a decent CPA at tax time.

In this case, that's complicated by the two lenders, especially with the first at least theoretically getting paid off in full.

I don't particularly want to go this route because I feel the language will start to become complicated.

Either they are all making it too complicated or I am making it too simple.I don't know what a cap rate is.I target $35k as the cost of acquisition including upgrades to get a house to be rentable and I expect circa $1k a month in rent for that.

Tax lien and tax deed auctions are much More complicated than mtg foreclosure auctions.

I am just saying that short sales are ALOT more complicated than "yeah" the family agreed to a low price.

It takes an hour each so you could get them all done in 1 day if there are no complications.

I agree.There may be some hiccups if you tell them you want a cash out refi to buy another house, but if you apply for a HELOC they're usually isn't any complications.