Condo vs. Single Family vs. Duplex

[Nick A.]

Hey everyone -

First post here as I'm just getting my feet wet, but I'm looking to buy my first rental property within the next 6-9 months and was curious what you would recommend for a first time investor.  I'm waiting until I pay off my primary residence and will likely put 50% down or something along those lines.

I've heard that a single family will appreciate the fastest, but has more of a hassle factor in terms of managing it. Condos are low maintenance, but you have the HOA fees. The duplexes available in the Boston market are typically in rougher areas that come with another set of issues.

If it was your first rental property, which of the three would you go with (all other things being equal - assuming they were in the same quality location).  Or even better, what DID you go with for your first rental property and why?

Thanks in advance!

Best,

Nick