there are some better 1031 masters on here that may be able to help, but you can identify multiple investments within your time period, so 1.5 plus expenses rehab etc. then invest the remaining in other deals or properties. 

On the other hand if some one bought 10 properties in each city and had 2 different groups managing them, there would be to many variables to identify which market is better.  

If not I would make sure to identify lot rent costs and if the property is eligible to be leased.

you can refi into a llc, you need to hunt for the right bank, CU, lender, broker to help you identify the best option.. its going to take time and a lot of phone calls but thats the business youre in

I am working on trying to identify who owns and get contact information for each of the duplexes.

I would also prefer to invest in B/C rated neighborhoods and am still in the process of identifying these exact places.So far, I have found the Columbus RE investing community to be simply amazing and I am thankful to have been referred to this website - there is so much great material here.My question is, how did everyone else define their goals / start their investment journey?

Hi, I'm an out of country investor and looking for good areas to invest in. I’m looking a software or website where you’re able to input filters such: Net migration, Household Income, Ave Home Price, etc. and it will ...

I'd suggest identifying your "why", write it down and let that too fuel the passion. 

If you can identify a great deal (home that needs rehabbed in a great neighborhood), you'll probably have a great flip and BRRRR.

Ideas: find out properties that have been passed down through wills, look for divorces, vacancies, for sale by owner inventory, etc. and somehow use computer skills to identify likely deals.