Best way to House Hack in Nashville

[Ralph Noyes]

Just sold an excellent duplex in St Louis that we were owner occupying and moved back to Nashville after 5 years away. Now the wife and I are hoping to do something similar here after our rental lease ends next July. Yes, that's a while away but I'd like to get the ball rolling well before, even if just by gathering information.

Ideally we'd like to get even more separation from our tenants (our previous place was a top bottom, which wasn't too bad) by having a fully detached unit somewhere else on the property, but I hear this can be challenging for zoning reasons? Maybe easier, more common, and cheaper to buy something with a united that shares a wall? Maybe we buy a single family with the right zoning then build the attachment ourselves?

For some context, her job is in Berry Hill right off I65/Bransford and unfortunately she has to be there 5 days a week. Our 2 year old's daycare is just east of Vanderbilt/21st ave. So, the ideal location would be near or even between both these places. Ideally a 3bd 2ba unit. As many of you know, anything of that size in that location is just bonkers expensive, so we're open to other nearby cheaper areas (we're renting in the north Glencliff area off Nolensville, which is quite a bit cheaper and not super far). We'll likely have enough cash to put down 20% on something that already has a 2nd unit, or put a low DP then spend to build an ADU.

All this to say -- what would you recommend? Have any of you or your clients had success in similar areas with similar criteria? Are we insane to even consider buying right now with these prices and interest rates? Any insight would be awesome. Will also try to make it to the next REIN luncheon for Davidson County next month. Thanks!

[Grant Schroeder]

I would be glad to connect with you and strategize through this scenario @Ralph Noyes!