First Duplex House Hack

[Mikey Knight]

Hi everyone,

My name is Mikey, I'm 21 years old, and my friend and I are planning to buy our first duplex in Colorado Springs within two years using an FHA loan (3.5% down). This property will serve as:

1. Our first house hack/ home
2. A wedding gift for my (future wife)
3. A long-term investment 

Our Goal

• Buy a move-in-ready duplex — avoiding heavy fixer-uppers.
• Live in one unit and rent out the other to lower our housing costs.
• Focus on safe, rental-friendly neighborhoods with strong appreciation potential.
• Live for cheap (not necessarily free) by renting the other unit to offset the mortgage.

I plan to live in duplex for at least five years or even more, and during that time, I also want to purchase additional properties to build my portfolio. I'd really appreciate any advice from experienced investors. I'm ambitious about real estate investing and eager to learn. How would yall approach this strategy? Am I being too selective, or does this sound reasonable?

Looking for honest feedback 

• Is this plan realistic for a first duplex in Colorado Springs?
• Is our price range on target?
• Any tips for deal analysis or negotiating seller credits?