Don’t do it just to do it.If the duplex doesn’t actually improve your cash flow, your risk-adjusted return, or your long-term strategy, then the 1031 isn’t worth it right now.

@Mel Rosario, It really depends on what aligns best with your personal goals, but if you’re considering a 1031 exchange, here are some practical options you might explore that can benefit you greatly as you grow your portfolio:• Trade Up to Larger Multi-Family or Commercial Properties: Use the equity in your paid-off rentals to exchange into bigger or more scalable assets, leveraging better economies of scale and potentially higher cash flow.• Diversify by Market or Property Type: Swap your current properties for investments in different geographic markets or asset classes (e.g., from single-family homes to apartment complexes, self-storage, or triple-net lease retail properties) to spread out risk and tap into new growth opportunities.• Consolidate Properties: If you have several single-family rentals, you could exchange multiple of them into a single, higher-value asset.

A bit about me:I've been a practicing architect for 15 years, mainly in commercial architecture. 

That the practice is shady and can hurt the seller of the home.

In practically every state?

Looking to avoid home inspectors that do minimum standards of practice and's will check every single detail.

Or, if you think there is room for improvement, you can hire a specialized bookkeeper who will bring you into their processes.Happy to discuss further. 

In this blog, we’ll break down why responsiveness is the cornerstone of lead generation success, what modern clients expect, and practical strategies you can use to stay ahead.Why Speed Is Everything in Lead GenerationStudies consistently show that the average human attention span is just eight seconds, which is roughly the same as a goldfish.

If you can buy below market value, then put in modest improvements (paint, flooring, fixtures, maybe some minor updates on kitchens or baths), you can often increase rents enough to improve cash flow meaningfully.

The adjusted cost basis would be your purchase price, plus capital improvements, minus depreciation, like what @Josh St Laurent said.