If a unit is significantly under market rent and needs upgrades, offer the tenant an upgrade in exchange for a renewal at a higher rent.

The usual way, but not the right way, to try to buy a rental is by finding a property on the MLS, where agents congregate, make an offer and then try to get financing to buy the property.

Just like bonds & stocks, different properties will have higher & lower risks.

After talking to another family member they said they would be willing to go in on the duplex and offered to pay the $40,000 down payment and help with any repairs but they want to be "partners" or "own" a percentage of the duplex.

The markets offer low to medium gross yields that max out around 7% if you buy in todays market.

Or you can offer a low enough price to make sense.

We don't even a Board yet (it's a new build), and it's all being coordinated by the HOA management company for the building.The developer offered to make the new door key fobbed on each side for entry, and would install a new security camera. 

PM me you're number if you'd like.I don't have any "opportunities" or property for sale or rent at this time or anything else to offer other than info based on my experience.

You can try to attend virtual events, many real estate meetups and events offer virtual options.

A few others have called out Hemlane, who appear also quite responsive here on BP and also offer a degree of repair/work order management baked right into their middle/upper tier offerings (versus having to bolt-on as with RentRedi + Latchel).