25 Year Old with 500K in liquid Cash. Wanting to build duplex - all the way to quad

[Jacob Hancock]

Hi everyone,
I have a chunk of money I am wanting to put into real estate. I am wanting to get some advice on what to do. I do not currently own any investment real estate.

My question is, with the cash that I have what would be the best route to go? Duplex, triplex, or even quadplex?
*how much is the costs to build each of these?
                    - ideally I would like to do two bed two bath or maybe even one. not opposed to 3 bed two bath.
I would like to build new.
-I have good connections with a local contractor that could do it. Mind you on these I would use mini splits.

secondly, would you recommend a barndomenium style, brick with vinyl siding, or all vinyl?
Im not scared to leverage but on my first investment I would like to do half down to limit risk and build more knowledge before I started leveraging more.

any tips or ideas are most certainly welcome. Thank you so much guys.

Best,
Jake