These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

Oh, and if you're living in the duplex yourself there are additional considerations like 121 exclusion and home-office expenses and depreciation. 

Any advice and suggestions are much appreciated!

We as a firm have investors working with us who have rental properties all over the US big and small.Finding a real estate-focused tax professional and one who can help with advisory and grow with you would be my suggestion to focus your efforts on finding.

Any suggestions on this topic.

I'd suggest either going 100% PM or 100% self managed. 

@Jessica Morrisonall good, thanks for the additional info. some questions to think through - what are the numbers while you're living there, vs. if / when you move out? 

- I am familiar with the area and can tell the difference between "bad" neighborhoods and have the know how/connections to fix up the home within reason (do not want to go over the 50k).Any suggestions?

I want to properly analyze a property that I have inherited using the Rental Property tool...but since I am not "paying" for the property, if I put $0 in for purchase price, then projected appreciation will not calculate since that is driven off the purchase price...any suggestions on how to get around this and get a feel for projected property appreciation within the tool itself?

Hi Emma,I suggest finding a good realtor that knows about off market properties in your area.