Feeling hopeless. I need help

[Raeshelle C.]

I want to buy a duplex and live in one of the units. My ultimate goal is to have a portfolio of real estate and be wealthy, but I want to start with a duplex I can live in. If I had $20-$35K I could start this path of financial freedom, but saving that much would take years and years. I want to start now while I'm 26. I took a home buyer 101 class that gave me a certificate that acts as the down payment for a house in Boston, but houses up there are too expensive. I wanted to take another class to get the certificate, but to take a multifamily home buying class and in the south coast where I live, but there are none available. I've thought about crowdfunding and looking for investors but i dont know...I feel like I know where I want to go but I cant because I dont have the money to get started. What can I do to get down payment and closing costs money so I can buy my first duplex while young?