Free Housing + $45k for a Down Payment—What Would You Do?

Question

My wife and I just got married and have an interesting situation in regards to real estate. We currently live in a tiny house for free as part of compensation for my job. While we are extremely grateful for the free housing, it is starting to become too small and we are hoping to upgrade towards bigger space in the near future, especially as we are hoping to have children within the next 2-3 years. For context, we can comfortably put $30k down on a property, and do qualify for state assistance of an additional $15k down payment assistance balloon. We make about $95k annually combined. We have a few options:

1. Build an additional tiny house and join them together at our own expense. This would be relatively inexpensive - around $15k - but it would be a sunk cost. It would let us continue to enjoy free housing for the next few years and save more for a down payment, but would be extremely challenging to have kids in.

2. Buy a small single family in our area. We live in Rhode Island and the housing market is essentially out of our price range everywhere except for those areas where we do not desire to live. So, we could buy a small single family and live in it for a few years with hopes to sell or refi for something in a better area, while keeping it to rent as a long-term rental. At least we would be gaining equity with this option, though I worry that we do not have enough saved for this to make sense, given how expensive our market is.

3. Buy an out of state short-term rental. This is the most interesting idea to me as out of state properties are far more affordable and the upside is much stronger. We have been looking at upstate NY. However, this option means we are stuck in the tiny home until we have enough equity to either borrow against the STR or sell it (as far as I know).

4. House hacking a duplex. This I would love to do, however I have been unable to find any duplexes that we can afford in our area, though I do look daily.

I would love any additional options I might be missing as well as your feedback on the options I've listed. If you were in my situation what would you do?

Thank you in advance!

Denise Supplee · Answer

Congratulations on your marriage!

Personally, I wouldn't rush into buying an out-of-state short-term rental if your own housing needs are going to change in the next few years. From what you've shared, I'd probably keep looking for the right owner-occupied opportunity while taking advantage of the free housing as long as it still works for you. One thing I've learned over the years is that it's much easier to be patient than to buy something you later wish you hadn't.

Jules Aton · Answer

If it were me I would stay put and save as much as you can for the next few years which will allow you more options when you decide to start your family.  It takes discipline to put off instant gratification but I suspect your future self will thank you.

Dan H. · Answer

No one has a crystal ball to know the future but- two separate studies completed about a year ago both showed it was cheaper to rent than own in virtually every large city in the US.   Investors have costs that owners do not such as tenant flips, vacancy, often higher property taxes, increased maintenance/cap ex because few tenants care for the house like the owner, bookkeeping*accounting, asset protection, etc.   The Implication is that high LTV, mls purchases purchase using market rate financing without a value add are cash flow negative.- median house prices nationally have fallen since late 2022.   I continue to underwrite at 5 years zero appreciation.   I could be wrong in either direction.   If I had to take a wager on if national RE appreciation will exceed inflation over the next 3 years I would bet against it.   If I am correct, it implies RE will fall in inflation adjusted dollars.  https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS- I agree with @Bruce Woodruff comment about sunken cost and suspect his price point is closer to accurate than your price point, but if your price point is close to accurate (label me skeptical) I think it can be worth pursuing.   If you pay rent that is sunk cost.  If you purchase a home it costs more than renting and the appreciation lately has been negative.  Another cost.  Housing currently has a cost.   We are no longer in 2010 to 2022.  If you can add a tiny home for anywhere close to your $15k estimate and it can increase you length of time living there by even a year it likely is worth it.  Basically living expenses of $1250/month ($15k/12 additional months) not including the use of it in the time prior to it extending your stay.  Not sure who pays maintenance/cap ex on your existing tiny home but likely cheaper expenses than owning both tiny houses. - Free rent is hard to beat.  if you can spend a small amount to extend the free rent option, seems worth pursuing.

Now my view on what you should do: stay as long as you can tolerate and employer is willing to provide the rent free option.   When this optional truly no longer works, if the RE market is like it is today meaning renting is far cheaper than owning and appreciation outlook for s questionable at best, then rent.   If the rates fall appreciably or housing values fall appreciably (or rents increase without property having similar increase which seems very unlikely), then purchase.

RE will not always be the best investment option (sacrilege on this site) .  Nationally we have seen for most RE purchasers since 2023, it has not produced good returns.

Good luck

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

You're living in a house paid for by your employer.....but who owns the land it sits on? Them, right? So if you build another house on the property, they will own that as well unless you do a creative legal agreement....So for me, that would get rid of that option. You would be throwing $50-100k into someone else's property.

@Jules Aton has the same idea as me....stay put and save more money.... but then you are stuck in a too-small house and have to put off having a baby (or do it anyway and just deal with it for a few years)

I would lean towards buying something local, maybe go to the outskirts of town to find lower prices properties and just have a longer commute?

Max Houghton · Answer

Completely agree with Bruce here - by your own admission, the ADU idea is sunk cost and doesn't contribute to your long-term goal of building equity. IMHO it doesn't sound like you're in a rush - waiting for the right opportunity to house hack (there will be opportunities if you keep an open mind and stay patient) is your best bet.

Are you working with a broker? Not selling anything here, but would flag that having a broker with good access to off-market opportunities will expand your net.

PS - also from RI originally and completely get the housing struggle! Prices have skyrocketed since COVID!

Aaron Zimmerman · Answer

House hack would be the best way to go in my opinion but I understand if affordability is a concern. You have a pretty good situation as is so maybe try riding it out As long as you can to save more.

Jules Aton · Answer

My pleasure. Unfortunately the crystal ball is cloudy. You could be correct but unless you can find a duplex in a decent area that you want to live the other options sound pretty bad to me especially because you want to purchase a safe family home in a few years. Also consider that RE isn't the only way to build wealth and in fact while the past doesn't guarantee future results low cost total stock market index funds which are totally passive and liquid have consistently resulted in impressive returns over time. Might be worth considering AA of HYSA/T-bills/CDs with a % in TSM index funds?

Free Housing + $45k for a Down Payment—What Would You Do?

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