Live in One, Rent the Rest: House Hacking with 3.5% Down

What if your first home paid you to live there? Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down owner-occupied multifamily—aka house hacking—so first-time buyers can turn a duplex, triplex, or fourplex into a launchpad for long-term wealth.Entry paths: FHA as low as 3.5% down; VA for eligible buyers with 0% down; new conventional 5% down options for 2–4 units.Qualify smarter: Lenders can count ~75% of projected rent from the other units toward your qualifying income.Live-in requirement: Plan on 12 months in the property—then you can rinse and repeat.Cash-flow upside: Fixed mortgage vs. rising rents, plus potential tax benefits on the rental portion.Getting started: Consider down payment assistance or gift funds; learn tenant screening, leases, and local landlord-tenant rules.Reality check: Expect competition from cash investors and be ready for the day-to-day of being an on-site landlord.Read the full article:https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/owner-occupied-multifamily-property/