Currently House Hacking What My Next Step

[Clint Bradley]

Hello everyone — I’m currently house hacking and have been since 2018. I own one property and have been actively trying to purchase a side-by-side duplex in the south metro, ideally with at least one 3-bedroom unit.

My biggest challenge right now is inventory. I’ve had searches set up for quite some time (I’m also a realtor) and I’ve been actively prospecting the specific neighborhoods I want to be in, but I’m coming up empty.

Because of this, I’m curious to hear opinions on an alternative strategy: buying a single-family home or townhome in my target area, living in it for 1–2 years, then renting it out while continuing to look for a multifamily property. Multifamily is still the long-term goal, but it simply doesn’t seem available in this area right now.

Switching areas isn’t an option due to my kids’ school and nearby family, so I’m trying to decide if this “stepping stone” approach makes sense or if it’s better to wait it out for the right duplex. I’d appreciate any insight from those who’ve faced a similar situation.

[Ryan Spath]

@Clint Bradley

You’re definitely not alone side-by-side duplex inventory has been extremely tight, especially in specific school zones.

The “stepping stone” approach can absolutely work if the property makes sense as a long-term rental. That said, in my own experience, my single-family homes and townhomes haven’t produced the same returns as small multifamily. The tenant profile is often different single-family and townhome tenants tend to stay longer and take great care of the property, but the cash flow and scalability typically favor small multifamily.

One thing I'd strongly consider is doubling down on targeting the exact properties and neighborhoods you want and marketing directly to those owners. Approaching it with a value-first mindset letting owners know you're a local investor, sharing market insight, offering help, or simply building rapport can create opportunities that never make it to the MLS.

Best of luck! You’re asking the right questions and thinking about this the right way.