New member from KC MO interested in renting section of first home

[Jeremy Dennis]

Hello all! I'm from Kansas City, MO and I'm interested in learning about real estate investing for the purpose of getting some supplemental passive income. I may change my mind down the road, but for now my goal is to have enough supplemental income to cover a mortgage payment so I can essentially be living for "free" (having a tenant cover my mortgage payment).

I've been renting for several years and am now ready to use my nest egg on a downpayment to buy a home. I'm not sure if this is the thread to ask questions, so please let me know if I should post this somewhere else! 

Is it realistic to think that I could buy my first home with a separate living area and rent it out to cover my mortgage payment? I'm thinking this would be a duplex or a house with a basement with a separate entrance.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions! Looking forward to interacting on BP!