The decrease in condos I attribute largely to the numbers of people, shared pools, elevators, etc.

With the increase in interest rates and decrease in home values, such remodel-in-progress opportunities may become more common.

Is there anything you can do to add value to the other half to increase rents, or to decrease your operating costs?

Based on simple economics, prices won't decrease on a macro level until supply exceeds demand, and that isn't happening anytime soon.

Buying a unit or units that already operate relatively well as a str with the plan of improving the looks of the units in order to decrease vacancy and up the nightly rate is a great way to add value and increase the cash flow.

As to whether it decreases turnover, I would think it would.

The craziest part of NJ right now is we are still appreciating and the Multi family market is crazy hot while many markets nationally are seeing price decreasing, homes sitting on market longer, we still have huge demand. 

I'm looking at potential duplex house hack deals and they make sense from a buy perspective as they will be cheaper than renting and really decrease expenses when a tenant is in place.

yes Greg is correct if you only live in 1/2 then 1/2 the gains should be taxable (assuming the sq footage is the same - like Greg explained) - but if more then a year then at least at long term capital gains rates. 

What will happen if both parents do not work is that your W-2 will show taxable income reduced by $5,000 but your return will reflect a $5,000 increase in income as it sees that both parents are not working.You will be worse off on this as there won't be withholding on the $5,000 of income potentially leaving you having to pay with your return.best of luck.