2) Is putting 5% down wise or unwise?

The best way to offset fear is with analysis, a healthy brain, huge monkey balls and  wise words from a monkey!

I keep digging, but it's been tricky to try to invest my few hard-earned dollars wisely when it feels like most of the deals are gambles.Then I see highly-leveraged projects / development-plays from some aggressive investors -- also more intense and scary than I'd like. 

If you are risk adverse real estate, (especially out of state) is not for you.James Wise, Real Estate 

Check out: The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoodsand James Wise who made the map if you haven't gotten around to it already. 

My question is, from other peoples experience, is it wise to go after more than a 4 plex?

If you want some great guidance from someone that's IN Cleveland reach out to @James Wise      Your FIRST step though will be to get yourself pre-approved with a lender

Glad to see you wised up before you threw your money into expensive toys like myself. 

Instead of being neighborly and asking them to keep it down, you try to make a scene by passive agressively standing there and making wise *** comments. 

I've done the math and it seems we could with certanty keep up this massive savings rate up if we bought the condo cash and lived in it and could buy the duplex cash in probably 4 years after by selling the condo.Would it make sense to buy the condo for that short of a time just to up and sell in in 2 to 4 years for the duplex I am not counting on much appreciation it is a condo. there may be some because of the area however.But this seems to be the only way we can keep our savings rate up. even if we leveraged the duplex we still would be worse off savings wise.