This was a trick another investor used and talked about during the REI expo last year in order to increase the response rate, which it did.

After carful consideration, and looking at many duplexes and fourplexes, the wife and I decided that we will get a duplex for now, and fourplexes later.

I assume you're taking into consideration everything for the homes: taxes, insurance, vacancy, repair reserves, expenses (CPA, utilities, permits/fees), property management, etc.The way I have been able to purchase my investments in such a short span, is to purchase investments which need significant improvements, complete the improvements myself (I'm a contractor as my day job), rent the unit and then refinance to pull cash out.In addition to doing that, I went to friends and asked to borrow money.

Some may say that earnest money (or consideration) is also required, but I'm not sure on that.

If you don't you run the real risk of just increasing that mess faster than you are able to increase your income.While you are doing that, you need to read everything related to business and real estate you can get your hands on.

Any time you use leverage, it increases your returns.

I'm interested in finding and learning how to increase our rents received each month and possibly flipping or owning more rentals.

If you have a strong historical capital and rent appreciation rate it might make sense to get into this market and wait for natural rent increases and appreciation to take hold and make for better investments if you wanted to stay local.You could also consider looking for turn-key investments in another city (Indy, Memphis, etc) where the returns could be much better - but the risk without having the ability to drive by the properties could be greater.

To get them all on the same page sometimes a deal will fall through.If considerable non-refundable money Is put up sure the seller is protected if they walk.

Maybe improvements that can that can be made to increase the rents if a multi or family.