Starting small, like with a duplex, is a good way to get your feet wet and minimize risks.Good luck!

Would your parents be interested in partnering on a duplex where you live in one side with a roommate and manage the other side rental? 

.- Buy one lot in area I can start building a duplex or fourplex on.  

Since Thomas is asking about buying a duplex as a first time buyer I assume he doesn't want a hard money loan.

I am starting to become involved in real estate investing and I am looking between two cities in Ohio to purchase my first property (hopefully a duplex).

Find out the inventory of duplexes in your market.

I have a duplex in cleveland with a combined 2,336 sq. ft.

I want to go the buy-and-hold route, and I am interested in finding a duplex that will provide a steady cash flow, a high appreciation value and does not need renovations.

they said around 90% of market value.I tried to get them to understand that this property needs a LOT of work, almost a full gut, some holes in walls (small) old carpet needs to be ripped up, i mean like the works on this thing, you can prob get away with touching up the kitchen since its real hardwood and the bathrooms as well but this prop needs at least 80k.Found out owner actually owes 140k on property, and zillow is zestimating it to be 127k.

Are you aware that over 80% of Wall Street / Stock market companies DONT last that long?