The question to be asking yourself is if you are comfortable with the monthly expense while you are living there and will it cash flow once you move out and put a tenant in there.

I found all this very fascinating and exciting but being young, and lacking money I found the prospect of RE very intimidating and focused on what I was comfortable with which is technology.  

Down here most duplex's are located in meh areas, areas I'm not comfortable leaving my wife and kids for days on end as I travel for work.But there are indeed deals to be found out there!

You have made me feel much more comfortable and I think we will probably ask for a slightly larger security deposit just for my own peace of mind, and go from there! 

I just don't know where to start I'm really scared of failing but I know now I cant move forward being comfortable. 

Most designs before 1970's don't have enough seismic load factor, so they are weaker than today's standard. 

I am not very comfortable to have a co-borrower.

There are people out there that would feel more comfortable lending in this situation since the property is actually owned and not speculative. 

Should I be comfortable purchasing ALL the units if I am not able to see them?

Basically what title says, I've looked over craigslist but some shady deals/areas, 600/month cash, would like just a bedroom and a bathroom and a kitchen to cook food.doesn't matter if its a shared bathroom, I don't drink, strictly on buisness, would be month to month, I can put down a deposit, and would do a lease if it made you more comfortable.