How to Buy a Duplex w/ No Money Down

[Jenny Serrano]

Hello all, I am an aspiring investor and want to buy a duplex. I don't have enough to cover a down payment and have research different ways to start. I just don't know which one is the safest since this is my first time trying to get into the game. 1st way I know of doing it is asking the seller if I can take over their mortgage payments but I don't understand how this works since they might have already paid part of the overall cost of the home. Another way I know of is by going through a bank loan for the down payment and then going through the mortgage lender for the rest. One final way is through USDA loan for rural areas but I don't know if South Jersey qualifies for that. Any help would be appreciated even if it is not directly related to the topic. For reference, I am 26 y/o and make 60k a year.