For the same reasons why a lot of people do, they have an amazing training program (Ignite) for beginners. 

Unless there is some kind of approval from the PA Department of Revenue on the exact language/method you rely on, parties at the closing are taking a gamble.

I think @Clint Moore is right about the predatory lending rules being tough once you get into lower loan values.I've never tried, but I guess technically you could try to hope for a good appraisal and take out a larger loan... could be a gamble though.Could you do a HELOC on your primary residence and use that to buy the duplex?

I don't like gambling, I only like to make bets I can win.

Oh, one last thing: there's a tribal gaming casino planned to be built in the southmost-central portion of the city which people take as a great benefit or the end of the world, depending on how you feel about gambling and/or money. :)

I can't afford to gamble. 

Thanks for igniting the idea!

If you're gambling on huge future appreciation, flyover country is not the place to be.

Someone tell Rich to stop gambling and to come educate the common-folk!

I like gambling analogies for real estate because, despite all the mumbo jumbo that sometimes gets thrown around, luck is a huge factor in your actual returns.