Owning an investment property before your own home

[Gabriel E. Martinez]

I am an renter, and I am in a hurry to start using real estate as an investment. I think I have enough savings to buy a small place, but nothing as nice and as big as where we live. (Actually, this is where we have gotten stuck before:  the up-front expenses to get into a house/neighborhood of our preference).

I would love to hear ideas and experiences about anyone who started their investment journey before landing on a house to call home. Also, those who are shrewd with money, do y'all think this could make financial sense?

This would be a "buy and hold" for me, whereas I plan on moving out of our current residence within 5 years.

Thank you very much for your time!