Duplex Financed by FHA Loan

[Valerie King]

I've never invested in anything in my life, aside from my college education and an $8,000 car that wasn't financed. 

After a little research, getting started with a duplex that's financed with the help of an FHA loan sounds smart.

Is it as smart as I think it is? Is it true that I can move out and rent both units after a year of residence? What tips and tricks on this do you have to offer? Are there better first steps than the duplex method you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

[Kim Younkin]

@Valerie King, hi! I work for an investment realty and PM company in Ohio and yes, that is a smart investment strategy. If I was just out of college and had the means I would do that in a heartbeat after all I've read here on BP. Put "house hack" in the search bar and you'll net a ton of forum threads and articles about what a great way it is to get started. If you want to do anything well, you have to know how to do it, yourself. So if you house hack and manage the units yourself, do things like get your first financing and fix your own toilets and search for and vet a specialty vendor when you need it, all on your own, you're all the wiser for your future as an investor. (By on your own I don't mean without developing a network; I mean without paying someone else to do it.) Best of luck!!