Newbie looking to houseback

[Rachid Zidani]

Excited to start my real estate journey - 26,remote job pays well, great credit etc. and currently renting in Arlington VA. My goal is to live for free (or close as possible) and generally get in REI in a smart, practical way.

Is the Arlington, VA area good to househack in? Would Dallas, TX or Tampa, FL be a better city? What is the best city area to house hack?

[Jorge Vazquez]

Tampa is a good option for house hacking. The main reason is that property values are still relatively low compare to other major cities. Tampa is hot; hot sports teams, beaches, theme parks, and a new "San Fransisco" look. So many unique high-end boutiques and fancy restaurants would make you think you are in California.

All of this for a fraction of a cost compared to a city like SF. Moreover is the fact that there is a lot of demand for short-term rentals and very low restrictions. I have recently founded several small Multis under 200k. And I have kept most of my short-term rental units occupied all year long.

Only if I was young again, I could imagine house hacking and rent short-term to some exciting foreign guests, so much to learn from different cultures, or renting a room to a doctor or lawyer while they look for the primary home, what great connections you can make.

If you are looking for 20% plus leverage returns or want to leave rent-free by "house hacking," Tampa is the place to go. But as someone else said in many groups, make sure you do due diligence on all the cities you are looking to invest in and pick the best that suits your profile, goal, and investment style. In the end, if you enjoy your stick to it long-term.