Duplex, Triplex and Quad are valued the same as single family.The value of anything up to 4 units is strictly based on comps.Anything 5+ units switches over to an income based valuation.

House hacking may still be an option depending on where you live, it just won't be as lucrative  there are many cities around the country where a single family home will have a granny flat in the form of an attached room with a separate entrance, a casita in the backyard or even a basement apartment. 

But that's the only way to grow. putting yourself outside of your comfort zone is the only way that eventually this stuffed becomes your comfort zone.Keep your long-term goals and the big picture in mind - you are not only living for free you are also building Equity every single month.

Buy my first single family but I am looking to put efforts to buy the multi-family any advise?

Every single LO I've seen across my desk when I represent the tenant/purchasers have violated the law so I get to tell my client that this is a virtually risk-free transaction for them. 

The Zoning Department said they get calls about the property all the time, however it is still for sale +1.5 years.The lots can be redeveloped with single family or multifamily homes. 

Thing is we dont know whether we look into single family homes, or commercial buildings.

Say if someone is renting a property as a duplex but it’s listed as single family?

I'm trying to decide what to do with my single family house when my wife and I move and I want to use the property to get into investing. 

I started with single family homes thinking that experience would help me invest in apartment buildings, but I eventually learned that you don’t need money or experience to start investing in apartment buildings and a single family track record wont help much.