I've driven through it and a lot of kids are outside playing and riding bikes it seems like a great place for families to live which is why I want to buy in this area.

My thought is to proceed with the duplexes for a long term play.

Its a long term play as you can have both elements of cash flow and appreciation. 

You can play the waiting game and break even on rent or get enough appreciation shortly to offset the depreciation recapture.Or your mom (under your direction) could do a 1031 exchange and sell this property using the proceeds to buy a similar priced property maybe closer to you or one that cash flows better.  

If it is one thread the people posting can play off others' information and get deeper discussion.

If you play your cards right, 4 years could give you a smooth transition from The Marine Corps to real estate, assuming you hit it hard for the next four years. 

I ordered several amazon books, the most helpful in getting general concepts of multi family analysis so far has been The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve Berges.You have more cash, so you could likely make a play well before me, however...My point is not that you should get lost in analysis, but that you should analyze dozens and dozens of properties before you actually make a play and are confident in your numbers and particular strategy. 

For a Conventional/FHA/VA Loan, taxes play a large role in calculating the income of an investor.

On top of that you may get someone that plays dumb because they don't believe in your idea, not much you can do, and happens more often than you'd think.

I currently own my own business, and enjoy coaching and playing both soccer and golf.I just did some browsing in the forums and it seems very promising.