Possibly looking to invest in a duplex . 

I like the idea of a Single-Family Buy-N-Hold (or duplex), but there are a lot of areas here that I am just not familiar with.

My goal by the end of 2018 is to buy a duplex using and live in one unit while renting out the other.

We did 7 rooms as a "sample" and had each phase of the work inspected by the building inspector - framing, insulation, dry wall, and final c/o.

How much value (if at all) should I place on it being a duplex lot?

Sign the contract ...Make sure to schedule recurring bi-weekly meetings with the newly selected PM to level-set and discuss open issues.For a duplex, this might be overkill, but the process at this time is really the most important. 

However, outside the backdoor, it's just an opening with wall around it (like egress well).

We own several duplexes where the water isn’t separately metered.

@Philip PriceWe have an STR duplex 4 properties from Mission beach board walk (the ocean side) and have been STR at least one of the units since purchase in 1999. 

For example he knocked out a wall and the old broken kitchen cabinets.