I know the price goes by age brackets, but it doesnt top $250 or so a month for anyone.

Sounds like your in at the ripe age to retire early.

Very easy to follow/understand.And big kudos to you for considering purchasing a duplex or 3-plex for a home at your age.

Which previous owner had die in it from old age; 90+ years old; blind; die peacefully in her sleep.

I have been interested in real estate from an early age (yes, seriously), because my parents made a good deal of money from the real estate market as a side-effect of changing jobs and moving in and out of homes throughout my childhood.

I have a big head start on you guys age wise.   

The middle-aged mutant Ninja Monkey will tell you wats tos doos.So with little money the only thing you can do really is use that money to make a (little bit) more.So now you have $3K and a little bit more.You then use that money to make even a little bit more, but more than that previous "little bit more" you made, because you invested  that $3K+ "a little bit more".

Our goals are to have a 50/50 of equities/RE for our retirement – and to possibly build a bridge of RE income that can carry us from 50 to legal retirement age, whatever that has become by then.

I'm impressed that at a young age, you already think of your long term plan and what you want to do.

Here's the wonderful thing about being your age.