They even own their own house and a condo that they rent to a friend (don't ask me how because I have no idea and frankly... don't care). 

Undecided whether I should use my VA loan and purchase a duplex which is about $380,000 zero down and use the down payment money for repairs and upgrading each unit.On the other hand I can remain renting in Seattle, save money and invest on multifamily property outside the state of Washington.

Excuse the in-depth (with numbers) type of question, but I think that the best start for me is to house hack a duplex.

I have a close friend who will homestead a duplex under his name.  

I'm filing my 2017 tax return and calculating the Schedule E depreciation deduction for a duplex that I purchased in mid-December 2017.

Amazing the difference in insurance rates in St Cloud, I have older duplexes in MPLS in the name of an LLC and I can't get insurance below $1800. 

I have one duplex that I really like.

In the process of sealing a contract with the owner of a duplex (4 bd 2 bath).

The property looks like a SFH, but the title in the report says "Dewey Duplex". 

Thats how I see it.I own several duplexes........on  two of them I have about 42% equity each.