Hi Sean from Long Island, New York-You are 18 and wonder if you should buy a duplex on Long Island which is an expensive area and likely would negative cashflow for you if you lived in one side--at least at first.You currently are still living at home and wonder if you should leverage your low cost of living to invest in a more affordable market.Obviously, the choice is a personal one, but if you could continue to keep your cost of living low living at home you could buy a cash flowing property in several markets in Michigan or similar areas and the equity would build up quickly.Then, you could use the equity to buy the next rental until you were ready to buy a house on Long Island or your priorities may change and you may decide to live somewhere else or work or school takes you other places.To Your Success!

A small new HOA usually has few problems. 

Policies should be updated as you run into new situations (like this).

Every time I inquire about rent, I’m given a new excuse.

I'm new to REI and somewhat recently moved to Houston.

Quote from @Srikanth Kumar: Hi Everyone,I’m relatively new to long-distance investing and am exploring the purchase of multifamily properties in Cleveland.

It will take away from your cash flow each month but you will have the 15k per property that you get a loan on and then you can get another property with it which may create enough cash flow to pay the new loans that you have created.

As a fellow New Yorker I understand the need to look outside of NY. 

Quote from @Alan Mills: Got an inspection objection back with something I’ve not seen on my other rehab’s (this is a Colorado property):“The seller agrees to have a licensed plumber install external sewer cleanouts per city code and scope the sewer line ensuring its integrity.”This was a full interior/gut rehab and almost everything is brand new.

I’m still new to real estate, so my knowledge might not be perfect—please be mindful!