The ability to have two separate rental units means a more steady and substantial cash flow, providing financial stability and security.Diversification: Investing in a duplex allows for diversification within the real estate market.

Always look at the economic development and job diversification in any area and that will tell you if you should do long term HOLDS there.

It also provides diversification, since you won't have all your rent roll in 1-2 tenants.  

The crowd source opportunities would be a bit lower risk due to vetting and greater diversification but will be lower return due to higher costs.For me personally, doing my own deals is both higher return and less risk as long as I am ok putting up with the work and hassle involved.

When you buy, sell or refinance, it will take time, and there will be legwork and various financial costs.Not trying to sway you either way, just pointing out some characteristics of rental property investments.For investing in stocks, I would use good diversification, and not put all my eggs in one basket.Best of luck!

I personally want both sides of the coin for diversification.

if there is any space left after he closes.A more "traditional" fund will have multiple assets, so the benefit is diversification with your single investment.  

I like more reliable diversification for market stability, that said who knows maybe this "boom" in the range will last 60 years?

The main consideration in renting my home was for diversification outside the stock market and that I would not need the profits since I will be renting in my new HCOL state. 

I'm not saying RE is inherently more risky than stocks but anytime you borrow money, there needs to be some element of risk taken into consideration.I'm sure everyone has heard the saying "concentration builds wealth, diversification preserves it" if this saying was a scale from 0-100 I think each person needs to decide for themselves where they fall at.