Looking forward to the passive income but also to the tax benefits

It might give you peace of mind as a newer / smaller investor, but in the end you have a problem you want to solve (taxes and being compliant), and if your tax guys owns a duplex will have no impact on his ability to address those issues. 

Everyone has different thresholds of risk and understandings of the benefits of real estate, we can go down a rabbit hole around tax advantages.

Similarly, there's a divide on whether taxes should be included or not in determining NOI.This lack of consensus has left me scratching my head.

The total monthly payment will be pretty close to this: P&I - $1,295, Taxes - $420, Insurance - $175, PMI - $220, for a grand total of around $2,100/m.

If you use a Mexican corporation, it'll have to file a tax return in Mexico and it'll be taxed on the net profit.This is to just to give you an idea.

The associated costs, such as increased insurance and property tax, could pose a challenge under this model as well.

Obviously 1k is not enough to cover the transfer tax and Sheriff's fees... 2) I thought Sheriff's sales were exempt from transfer tax in PA?

If you're looking for a landlord friendly state with lower taxes and a market with lots of potential for appreciation, Columbus could be a good fit.Best of luck as you start out! 

Roth IRA distributions will be tax free.