House hacking a duplex is a solid way to get started in real estate while keeping your living costs low.

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

Unless you have the rentals paid for by the time you retire, they aren't going to be enough to live off of. 

Quote from @Jared Goldwasser: I live in Los Angeles and am looking to purchase my first investment property this year -- interested in single family or duplex units.

We live in Texas, a community property state, and are 50/50 owners.

I live in California but am looking to invest in Texas, Alabama.  

People are looking to live smaller or some are being forced to live smaller, hence the insane growth in apartments and storages.

Have a client that does sober living homes here in B/CS.

I live in SW Washington.

Tenants should be paying the owner.Do you also live in the house?