How to buy real estate for under fair market value?

[billbenson]

I know someone who has done well in real estate, but he started by buying a duplex right out of college and working with an engineering degree. He has done well but it was 20 or 30 years until real estate could support him.

[RichardtheFrog]

Have you found that duplexes are more profitable than single-family homes?

[David Hunter]

Talk with a real estate agent and have them search for the great deals. They are out there.

[nealrm]

The perfect house is one that us structurally sound, but has the ugliest paint/wallpaper/carpet you can imagine. Those are easy and cheap to replace, but will drive the price of the property down significantly.