I am new to investing in real estate, but I am eager to get started.  From what I have read and my personal preferences, I believe that house hacking is the way I want to start.  I am interested in purchasing a duplex in the Lawrenceville, GA area, but I have a few questions that I need to clarify first. Please forgive me if these should be multiple posts to the forums, but I will toss the questions out here and adjust as necessary.

I have started a corporation, but I am not certain exactly the role that it should play in my REI. My long term plan is to buy and hold several multi-family properties to fund my retirement. I plan to turn the corporation over to my grown children when I exit the planet. I don't know if this is best done with a corporation or a real estate trust. If the answer is corporation, what i the best way to get the properties into the corporation. I assume that I could quit claim the properties to the corporation and hope that my mortgage company does not object and call the note. I watched some pod casts and such that have recommended that I not use a corporation, but rather use an umbrella insurance policy for protection. I will look to pass the properties to my children so does a corporation make that easier or more difficult?

I am looking to buy my first investment property and will probably owner-occupy that property for a year or so.  

I also need to re-finance my current house to pull out some equity for the down payment on the new house. 

Thanks

Greg