Top 6 tips for house hacking

[Salvador Diaz]

I am starting my first househacking deal this year and I will Segway that into my second deal by end of 2025.

I would love to hear all you experts and pros with experience to tell your story. If you are in the Seattle market the better, even better in the burien market, but all are absolutely welcome because no matter where the project is, a house is a house.

looking forward to hearing from all of you!

[Jonathan Greene]

1. If you are single or a couple on the same page about house hacking, look for uneven multis. These are non-standard setups. So, instead of a 2/1 over 2/1 or a side-by-side that is exactly the same layout, look for oddballs. A 1/1 with a 4/2 on top is perfect for the hacker to live in the 1/1 and cash flow on the higher rents.

2. Look for multis with separate entrances in different areas like one door in front for one unit and a door on the side or back for another. This gives you a better opportunity to do STR or MTR and not bother yourself or the LTR tenant with more people coming in an out.

3. Look for 2 +1 options if you can live without a stove. A 2 +1 is a legal 2-family with a boarder unit that can be lived in by the owner, usually without a stove and you want to make sure the bathroom is permitted.

I hope that helps.