My wife and I started managing more properties for others as word of mouth recommendations started and we started to use the management and arbitrage cash flow to acquire our own properties and fund the BRRRs we were working on.  

Does not appear to be low IQ person to me .

Get some gift funds to help with the down payment if you can.

If you’re interested in investing in real estate, you can consider doing so with a Self-Directed IRA to defer taxes on capital gains until you actually withdraw the funds from your IRA.

Here are a few strategies I recommend for scaling your portfolio:Leverage What You Have:Consider using the equity in your duplex to help fund your next property.

Personally that is what I wanted, an active mentor. 

While an LLC can offer liability protection and tax benefits, it’s not essential for a single property—personal liability insurance and an umbrella policy may suffice for now.

The Strategic Neighborhood Fund is pumping money into key areas, and it’s making a difference.

May be you meant that the IRA has deferred-tax funds and not Roth?

Screen tenants thoroughly, have a solid lease, and maintain an emergency fund for unexpected expenses.