Should you buy your first home first, or investment property?

[Pax Magaway]

Hey all, first time posting on here. I have a quick question. My wife and I are thinking about buying our first home soon but I was wondering what your thoughts are about buying your first home before your first investment property? 

[Andrew S.]

I've been house hacking a duplex for 4 years now and I couldn't recommend anything above that. I think it depends on your savings rate and your goals. If you can purchase a house (PITI, maintenance, decorating, furnishing, etc) and saved $1000+ plus per month then get a house first. However if you can reduce your living expenses to as low as possible (house hacking is a common method), then your options will be greater than you may imagine. Living in a duplex is NOT as cool as many of my friends houses. However I can live off my rental income after 4 years; all due to no living expense has allowed me to save additional down payments. The rest of my life, my rental income (not my W2) will pay for whatever house I want. Which I think is cooler than living in a cool house in my 20s.

+1 for any of the house hacking BiggerPockets books. Set for life, Housing hacking, etc.