Owner-Occupy Single Family & Renting a Room

Owner-Occupy Single Family & Renting a Room

Developer · Bend Oregon · Member since 2020 · 11 posts · 9 votes

Hi!

I am new to the site and so appreciative of the community that has been built here. I live in an area where the real estate market is ridiculously high and only projected to continue growing. I currently do not own any real property and I am thinking of buying a single family home to live in myself, while renting a bedroom or two to pay the rent. (I am also open to multifamily homes and benefiting from owner-occupy rates in that scenario, but that has been thoroughly discussed whereas I have not seen anyone else speaking of the former situation.) The tenant- landlord relationship is obviously very different if we were to become housemates and I can foresee some sticky situations when it comes to the responsibilities of each party. 

I would likely be catering to graduate students at the local college, whom are around my same age group. I wonder if there are any laws dictating if I need to disclose that I am the owner of the property or if I could act as though I am the intermediary between tenants and landlord. 

My main objective is to obtain a piece of real property that will grow in value, for a low down payment, and for little or no mortgage cost. The money saved and equity earned on this property is what I will use to invest in an income producing property in the future, or perhaps I will move out in a year or whatever with my owner-occupy rate details is acceptable and rent out the entire house.


Has anyone done something like this?

Thanks!

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Real Estate Broker · Kansas City Metro · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Grace Marie Weger:

Hi!

I am new to the site and so appreciative of the community that has been built here. I live in an area where the real estate market is ridiculously high and only projected to continue growing. I currently do not own any real property and I am thinking of buying a single family home to live in myself, while renting a bedroom or two to pay the rent. (I am also open to multifamily homes and benefiting from owner-occupy rates in that scenario, but that has been thoroughly discussed whereas I have not seen anyone else speaking of the former situation.) The tenant- landlord relationship is obviously very different if we were to become housemates and I can foresee some sticky situations when it comes to the responsibilities of each party. 

I would likely be catering to graduate students at the local college, whom are around my same age group. I wonder if there are any laws dictating if I need to disclose that I am the owner of the property or if I could act as though I am the intermediary between tenants and landlord. 

My main objective is to obtain a piece of real property that will grow in value, for a low down payment, and for little or no mortgage cost. The money saved and equity earned on this property is what I will use to invest in an income producing property in the future, or perhaps I will move out in a year or whatever with my owner-occupy rate details is acceptable and rent out the entire house.


Has anyone done something like this?

Thanks!

It's a great idea! Buy at least a duplex and rent out the rooms in your own apartment of the duplex for the ultimate house hack. You will live rent free and make money on it. Then a year later do it again...and again...and again...until you cant stand neighbors. You won't regret it. Hope this helps!

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  • Real Estate Broker · Kansas City Metro · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Grace Marie Weger:

    Hi!

    I am new to the site and so appreciative of the community that has been built here. I live in an area where the real estate market is ridiculously high and only projected to continue growing. I currently do not own any real property and I am thinking of buying a single family home to live in myself, while renting a bedroom or two to pay the rent. (I am also open to multifamily homes and benefiting from owner-occupy rates in that scenario, but that has been thoroughly discussed whereas I have not seen anyone else speaking of the former situation.) The tenant- landlord relationship is obviously very different if we were to become housemates and I can foresee some sticky situations when it comes to the responsibilities of each party. 

    I would likely be catering to graduate students at the local college, whom are around my same age group. I wonder if there are any laws dictating if I need to disclose that I am the owner of the property or if I could act as though I am the intermediary between tenants and landlord. 

    My main objective is to obtain a piece of real property that will grow in value, for a low down payment, and for little or no mortgage cost. The money saved and equity earned on this property is what I will use to invest in an income producing property in the future, or perhaps I will move out in a year or whatever with my owner-occupy rate details is acceptable and rent out the entire house.


    Has anyone done something like this?

    Thanks!

    It's a great idea! Buy at least a duplex and rent out the rooms in your own apartment of the duplex for the ultimate house hack. You will live rent free and make money on it. Then a year later do it again...and again...and again...until you cant stand neighbors. You won't regret it. Hope this helps!

  • Real Estate Agent · Washington, DC · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 52 votes
    6y

    I'm in the process of doing this myself with a SFH (townhome) I plan on making the half bath in the basement a full bath and rent out the basement and atleast one room on the upper level to cashflow. I'm so excited to begin this journey. Next year I hope to purchase a duplex or triplex and rinse and repeat!

  • CA · Member since 2021 · 21 posts · 7 votes
    5y

    Wow, @Grace Marie Weger, everything about your situation and your objective pretty much mirror ours! I was wondering if you might have an update and whether you were able to find more information on how to structure the rental agreement as you described? Were you able to buy a home and are you now renting out the rooms?

    My son and I are just about to close on a condo in Gilbert, AZ and my son - whose name is on the loan/title and goes to college in the area - would like to rent out a couple of the rooms to friends. We didn’t necessarily want the other kids to know that he partly owns the place. I’m really struggling on crafting the appropriate rental agreement and wanting to provide a level of separation and degree of confidentiality between his roommates, mainly to avoid any potential interpersonal conflicts. I would like the roomies to pay him the rent, but any issues should be directed to me.

    It would be great to hear from you on your status if you’d like to share! Many thanks.

  • Developer · Bend Oregon · Member since 2020 · 11 posts · 9 votes
    4y

    UPDATE: sorry it took so long!


    I ended up purchasing a townhome in July 2021, it is 3bed, 2 1/2 bath and I have two roommates who completely cover the mortgage. They are both my age and know that I am the landlord, it has been a very easy living situation. I used the rental agreement from one of Brandon Turner's books and spent a lot of time screening applicants and meeting with them to ensure it was a good match. I have gained 100k in equity in a year without having paid anything since my down payment- which was only 3%

  • Member since 2021 · 12 posts · 3 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Grace Marie Weger:

    UPDATE: sorry it took so long!


    I ended up purchasing a townhome in July 2021, it is 3bed, 2 1/2 bath and I have two roommates who completely cover the mortgage. They are both my age and know that I am the landlord, it has been a very easy living situation. I used the rental agreement from one of Brandon Turner's books and spent a lot of time screening applicants and meeting with them to ensure it was a good match. I have gained 100k in equity in a year without having paid anything since my down payment- which was only 3%


     congratulations!!! That's aswesome! I'm where you were a year ago and about to start looking at homes. Which books did you read/ recommend? And from which one did you get the agreement? I was thinking on hiring an attorney to help me draft one but maybe I don't need one ? Thank you! 

  • Developer · Bend Oregon · Member since 2020 · 11 posts · 9 votes
    4y

    Good for you!  I read “the book on rental property investing” and it had information on how to access rental documents. I highly recommend reading (or listening, it’s on audible) to this book before jumping in. Best of luck! Keep us updated on how it goes!

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