VA Loan House Hack Preparation

[Mason Griffin]

Hello everyone, hope 2026 is off to a good start for you all. I plan to get my investing career started with a house hack strategy (duplex?) in the Milwaukee area (out of the city) utilizing the VA loan. Currently I feel stuck, I will be able to get my COE when I hit my 6 years served in April, so just a few months away. There are plenty of lenders and realtors willing to talk, but I feel like I should be preparing myself first in other ways. I have been trying to analyze listings on the market as a start to practice. I am turning 24 next month and have been working as a Buyer for a construction company for about a year since I graduated with my finance degree. I feel like I should rent for one more year as I still do not have much for savings. That will also give me time to look at deals and hopefully allow the market improve more. My goal is to be living in a duplex at 25, ideally fall of 2027 or sooner. With tax season here I realized quickly what I thought was a decent starting salary doesn't go very far with everything coming out, so I am even more motivated to start my investing journey. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!!

[Ryan Spath]

@Mason Griffin

You're actually in a really solid spot for 24, even if it doesn't feel like it yet. The fact that you're already thinking in timelines—COE in April, VA loan, duplex by 25—puts you ahead of most people. Analyzing deals now, before you're ready to buy, is exactly what you should be doing; most people wait until they’re pre-approved and then try to learn underwriting under pressure. VA loans paired with a duplex are a powerful first-deal strategy, even without a lot of savings, and your biggest constraints will likely be cash to close, reserves, and personal comfort—not the loan itself—which gives you clear targets over the next 6–12 months. Renting one more year isn’t losing time if it helps you build reserves, confidence, and a clearer buy box; it’s positioning. That realization about your salary after taxes is also a gift—it’s often the moment that pushes people from saving to investing. Fall 2027 is very realistic and could even happen sooner, especially since markets don’t need to “improve” for house hacking to work; softer or sideways markets can actually create better owner-occupied opportunities. Stay flexible on timing, submarket, and even whether it’s a duplex or small multifamily—the goal isn’t perfection, it’s getting on the ladder. If you want, shoot me a DM with your email and I’m happy to send you the Excel sheet I use to analyze deals so you can keep pressure-testing numbers while you’re preparing.