I have a contract on a duplex in Independence, MO.

I don't think I'd ever want to deal with a tenant who never sees themselves becoming an independent, free thinking landowner and foresees that the best outcome that they could ever achieve for themselves and their family, in life, was living in a big box apartment complex.I'm probably just not thinking like an investor.

They are an independent party and can even show up at a person's job or while they are "out and about." 

A class areas are more "independent" in the sense that they will just call someone out.

If you do not have an agent or if your agent is exclusive to his/her company then you should contact an independent agent. 

Many people go their entire lives without doing that introspection.I'd recommend figuring out what those goals will cost and developing a work plan and investing that will allow you to achieve them.There likely will not be a lot of people who will share their annual compensation on a public site but if you listen to enough podcasts and read enough books, you will begin to hear stories on property profits and people's financial independence numbers. 

Websites like myhousedeals.com and connected investor also have resources to help investors start out and become financially independent.

If you can make decisions - especially financial - for the property independent of the owner, you are for sure a property manager.

I need a real change in my life and I believe that REI offers a unique blend of security and independence rarely found elsewhere.

If you don't mind me asking, do you think your out of state properties provide higher risk-adjusted returns than location-independent investments (say stocks, bonds, etc)?