Use individual leases to reduce risk, screen tenants carefully, and set clear rules about noise and responsibilities.Good luck!

You might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”, since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant: https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processes

•Which unit size would rent faster and have higher demand in this area?

Some are more cumbersome than others with project schedules but that comes down to project types and size of firm.

As "proof" that they are legit, they sent me a copy of a DE vorp good standing screen shot and a fake HUD statement showing $1.2 million on a property that was sold for $200k three years ago.

North of Austin, the county regulations say you don't have to do it IF you're only doing residential, certain lot sizes and limiting the impervious cover of each lot.

I even took a screen shot of it somewhere.

Think of it as a piggy bank: you put money in all the time, but the piggy itself also grows in size over time.

You also have lawn and snow removal in multi's, where SFR tenant is responsible.Finally, SFRs typically garner more rent than multi's, for same bed/bath/general size.  

What would the size of the duplex be, 2,500 SF?