Consider using an FHA loan to secure a 1–4 unit property with just 3.5% down and take advantage of tax benefits by living there for at least two years.

That said you can greatly alleviate that with good screening, and the higher price point that these types of units can demand should help filter out the deadbeats.

Today, I used those proceeds to purchase a 5-unit commercial retail building without coming out of pocket at all.

The second case was a commercial property (an 8 unit multifamily in a complex of 6 individual 8 unit buildings), owned by a group of investors.

I had listed a 10-unit property in Cincinnati, OH, and found a buyer through an agent from a different office.

Now, in 2024, we're seeing $4,000 per month just on the main unit and $1,800 on the other unit of the duplex.Long story short, it's a long term play.

Many of these are low income, government subsidized housing units.

I will be quick to admit I have only had experiences with small rentals (6 units and smaller) so if you are looking for help on larger apartment complexes I would not be a great resource.

As of December 2024, the median sales price for new houses in the United States was $427,000, with an average sales price of $513,600.

A great way to get started if you currently have a W2 job is to buy a house hack like a duplex or a fourplex where you can move into one of the units and continue to rent/manage the other units.