Rookie Couple from Glendale AZ

Member since 2025 · 1 post · 3 votes

Hi! Excited to get started with Real Estate Investing by learning from each and everyone of you all ❤️ we would like to get started by renting our house and house hacking near midwestern umiversity area. Any thoughts are welcome!

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Patrick O'SullivanBusiness Member

Property Manager · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2024 · 531 posts · 203 votes

Hi Crismae — welcome to the community and congrats on starting your investing journey!

If you’re open to small multifamily (like a duplex, triplex, or fourplex) instead of just renting rooms, that’s another smart way to house hack. A few things to keep in mind with multifamily:

✅ Separate units = separate cash flow: Having multiple units gives you more income streams to cover your mortgage and expenses — if one unit is vacant, the others help pay the bills.

✅ Financing can still be residential: Anything up to 4 units usually qualifies for residential loans (like FHA or conventional), so you can still lock in lower rates and lower down payments — a big plus for first-time buyers.

✅ Run your cash flow numbers conservatively: Estimate realistic rents, factor in vacancy, maintenance, property management (even if you do it yourself for now — your time still has value!), and make sure you have a buffer for unexpected repairs.

✅ Live in one unit, rent the others: This is classic house hacking — you get tenant income while building equity and experience as a landlord.

✅ Location matters: Being near Midwestern University could be perfect — students or staff often like the privacy of their own unit vs. just renting a single room.

You’re already asking the right questions — wishing you and your partner lots of success as you find that first property!

[email protected]480-795-7938

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Joey BanasihanPro Member
Investor · Boise, ID · Member since 2019 · 233 posts · 188 votes
1y
Hey @Crismae Salamat - House hacking has honestly been one of the best decisions my wife and I made, so huge kudos for heading that route early on.

If I could offer one piece of unsolicited advice — don’t be afraid to take on homes that need a little more work than you’re comfortable with. Some of the best value-add opportunities come from properties that others overlook. I've brought in contractors just to walk me through what needs to be done and help make sure everything meets code and permit requirements — and it's been worth it every time.

The equity we’ve gained from those kinds of projects (and then tapped into with HELOCs) is a big part of how we’ve been able to scale faster than we ever expected. And the same goes for many of my clients as well.

Wishing you the best as you get started!
[email protected]
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Mason WeissBusiness Member
Realtor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2021 · 523 posts · 239 votes
1y
Hey Crismae, I started in the same way and am about to rent out my current primary and move into a new house to repeat the process! Let me know if you would like to chat about how to find a good house hack property as I have helped multiple clients do it this year!
[email protected]480-818-7745
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Noah CorwickPro Member
Realtor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2021 · 271 posts · 115 votes
1y
Hi Crisme.
Like others have said, house hacking is one of the best paths to least resistance ways of getting into REI and scale slowly but surely.
Solid vision of buying near Midwestern University. There's a lot of movement right now in northern Glendale due to the price point and there are a lot of underrated neighborhoods near the Arrowhead mall.
One piece of advice that I see a lot of first time house hackers overlook in this market is the future refinance calculation. It's a buyer's market right now (so you can get aggressive on an offer) but rates will likely still be high. So be sure to mentally budget for when you will need to do this. When this would actually occur is anyones guess.
[email protected]602-834-4617
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Jackson Harris
Realtor · Phoenix AZ, USA · Member since 2023 · 209 posts · 81 votes
1y
Quote from @Crismae Salamat:

Hi! Excited to get started with Real Estate Investing by learning from each and everyone of you all ❤️ we would like to get started by renting our house and house hacking near midwestern umiversity area. Any thoughts are welcome!

Hi Crismae, welcome to BP!
I work with house hackers all the time, IMO it's the best investment in the area to take advantage of right now. I'm working with 2 buyers in that same area, would love to connect and learn more about what you're looking for - might have a couple properties I've already seen to send your way!

Feel free to message me!
0 Reply
Denise SuppleeBusiness Member
Realtor · Willow Grove, PA · Member since 2017 · 979 posts · 642 votes
1y
Hello @Crismae Salamat, Great to meet you! I have been in real estate in many, many facets over the last 35+ years. And... I started out with house-hacking before it was even a term, LOL. First I rented a room out (And got child care in the deal as well). I then hosted an international student which was a great experience, plus paid most of my mortgage. You said you are near a University, perhaps you could rent rooms to students. I wish you the best success!
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Patrick O'SullivanBusiness Member
Property Manager · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2024 · 531 posts · 203 votes
1y
Hi Crismae — welcome to the community and congrats on starting your investing journey!

If you’re open to small multifamily (like a duplex, triplex, or fourplex) instead of just renting rooms, that’s another smart way to house hack. A few things to keep in mind with multifamily:

✅ Separate units = separate cash flow: Having multiple units gives you more income streams to cover your mortgage and expenses — if one unit is vacant, the others help pay the bills.

✅ Financing can still be residential: Anything up to 4 units usually qualifies for residential loans (like FHA or conventional), so you can still lock in lower rates and lower down payments — a big plus for first-time buyers.

✅ Run your cash flow numbers conservatively: Estimate realistic rents, factor in vacancy, maintenance, property management (even if you do it yourself for now — your time still has value!), and make sure you have a buffer for unexpected repairs.

✅ Live in one unit, rent the others: This is classic house hacking — you get tenant income while building equity and experience as a landlord.

✅ Location matters: Being near Midwestern University could be perfect — students or staff often like the privacy of their own unit vs. just renting a single room.

You’re already asking the right questions — wishing you and your partner lots of success as you find that first property!
[email protected]480-795-7938
get MULTIfamily Property Management4.7220 Reviews
Website View Page
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