The numbers could make sense if you do STR, but it's still tough because the pricing for multis is high and the long-term rental return isn't that great.

I started with multifamily but price expectations have gotten out of control.Just refinanced my multi-tenant retail property and pulled out much more cash than I put in. 

Or find a property that is under-utilized or has below market rents.Otherwise, you could also do the OPPOSITE of the great advice from @Jonathan Greene and buy a property with multi-bed units or live in the larger unit and rent out the smaller unit - while getting a roommate(s).

Here's how it works:If their deposit is $1,500, they can either choose to pay the SD in full or elect to take out what is essentially a loan with Rhino Insurance and only pay $25 per month ($20 goes to Rhino and the remaining $5 goes to the PM company) toward their $1,500 SD.

Voluntary Compliance: A reporting company can still voluntarily comply with the law if they so choose.

This doesn't mean that you can't purchase a multi-unit (duplex, triplex, etc.), but I do not believe that you will qualify for VA loan entitlement if you purchased a property that is not your primary residence.

If you’re referring to the “newbies” with $10k to their name that watch a video by Pace and get excited and pay for joining, go out with their last $5k and do a sub to with a “desperate” homeowner without revealing all the possible consequences (because they are unaware of the consequences through lack of experience and lack of knowledge and or choose not to inform the seller) then I agree, it’s probably going to turn out badly for all concerned.If on the other hand you’re referring to a seasoned investor with excellent credit, significant cash reserves, who wants to add a property to their portfolio without going through loan qualifying, and can pay enough to give the seller “walking away” money because of the low existing interest rates and or, and is dealing with a informed seller, then I find nothing wrong or negative about the transaction.  

Is that 25% down on the total construction costs when you choose to break-ground? 

I was going through the rent control laws ( I know, should have done that before purchasing the property ), and a section stands out. https://ecode360.com/30526708#42037155Based on what I can read, the rent control chapter doesn't apply to: Dwellings of three and four units, at least one of which is occupied by one or more of the owners thereof.My understanding is that rent control doesn't apply to owner-occupied multi-units. 

buy a small multi and live in the smaller unit.