People have been dropped by insurance companies in wildfire areas and had to scramble to try to find insurance - some using California Fair Plan. 

Quote from @Jesse Yoder: What insurance works with people doing BRRRRs? 

Common problem, no easy answer:(We try to allow our owner clients to arrange their own maintenance, but have learned the hard way there MUST be limitations:1) They can't hire our people!

That shows real estate can be possible for anyone; in my opinion, I know everyone has unique and challenging situations, but in principle, anyone who can follow some basic budget fundamentals can save up enough for a down payment.Grateful BiggerPockets continues to bring more people into the industry!

Down payment funds may seem tricky to those who get lured in by the countless con artists on social media selling the notion 100% financing using other people's money is easy.

And the split is whatever you decide on. 50/50 is what a lot of people usually do.

Then came Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Then use the extra roommate rent income to pay down your mortgage and look to refi to a lower payment in the future (3-5 years) - so it cashflow when you move out.You could also choose the smaller unit and STR the other unit to generate more cash to pay down your mortgage and refi, so it cashflows when you move out.Bottom line: you'll have to get creative to solve your cashflow challenge!

There are too many people selling you on how easy, passive, and lucrative real estate investing is.I always tell people the first year or two will be bumpy.

I know some people feel like they need to invest in a course to hold themselves accountable or feel like they are doing something.