When you move all of your insurance under one insurer, they can also bid down your individual policies to help save you money.

I also don't use them on my personal, but that personal choice. 

Are utilities paid by individual unit tenants?

So depending on what you want buying a business might be the better choice for you. 

Use individual leases to reduce risk, screen tenants carefully, and set clear rules about noise and responsibilities.Good luck!

I’m here to network with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and grow my knowledge in real estate investing.

There's some great choices, but what it comes down to is what your buying strategy/criteria is. 

Get super familiar with your location of choice and work with people who have your best interests.

Only an experienced individual or professional should try this.

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.