Living in a duplex and renting out the other half

[Caleb Tello]

At 27, I finally have enough in savings to start investing in real estate. My plan is to buy a duplex, live in one half, and rent out the other. My question is, can I get a mortgage for less than 20 percent down if I live in half the property? How would that work? This would free up the rest of my cash for a second property, possibly a single-family home to invest in in a year or two.

[Peter M.]

Yes if you owner occupy you will qualify for an FHA or conventional loan. Most of the time conventional is the way to go as long as you have 5% plus closing costs in your bank account. It is what people on this site call house hacking.