This is how I see it:Single-Family Homes:Pros:Larger pool of potential tenants (families).Simpler management (one tenant, one lease).Often easier to finance.May appreciate faster in some markets.Cons:Only one income stream.Vacancy hits harder financially.Duplexes:Pros:Two potential income streams.Live in one unit and rent the other (house hacking!)

Also make sure you are comfortable with some holding costs if the units don't get rented right away (if vacant).Also look into if there is rent control in the area that the property is located.

St Cloud MN Duplex, list/purchase price $259,900market rents $1,610 per unit BUT yes, if one really wanted to sec8 income standards are $1,957 per unit so one could go that direction if wanted be.

The investors with the most units and most experience could just as likely be in flip flops and a Jimmy Buffett shirt as jeans and a polo.

I feel my money is best spent building a portfolio of cash flowing units.

Quote from @Kyle Harris: I'm a new investor and looking to learn as much as I can this year and hopefully make a purchase on a multifamily unit by the end of 2025.

Just like buy and hold an SFR  is vastly different than syndicating a 200 unit apartment. 

Think multi unit residential, commercial properties, or purchasing houses “subject to” existing mortgage.  

@Benjamin Ying1) Waste of time unless you are buying hundreds of units.2) Any option to minimize risk is usually a good idea.3) Always better to visit an area before investing.

Fannie Mae has a requirement that if you want to use the rental income from the non occupied units, that you MUST have a current housing expense which means you cannot live rent free.