Senior in High School Planning to House-Hack

[Ojas Batheja]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently a senior in high school, and I’m trying to learn more about real estate investing, specifically house hacking.

My current plan is to attend a satellite campus of a larger university and commute instead of paying for a more expensive college/living situation. By doing that, I estimate I could save around $20-40,000 per year, and I’d like to potentially use that money to get into house hacking during my last three years of college.

The idea I’m thinking about is buying a small multifamily or single-family home with extra rooms, living in it for a year, renting out the other rooms/units, then moving out and repeating the process each year for 3–5 years if possible.

My biggest question is how realistic is it to move every year for 3–5 years straight while house hacking?

Personally, I see a lot of upside:

• I could reduce or eliminate my housing costs
• I could build a rental portfolio early
• I’d gain hands-on experience
• I’d meet people and learn how to manage tenants
• I’d potentially build equity and cash flow over time

But I also keep thinking if this strategy is so great, why doesn’t everyone do it? What are the real downsides that beginners usually underestimate?

I’m also wondering about financing. Would someone my age realistically be able to get approved for a mortgage with only 3.5%–5% down, assuming I have savings but limited income/credit history? Would I likely need a co-signer, higher income, or a longer work history?

The only work history I have and will continue to have is driving for DoorDash about 15-20 hours per week.

I’m not looking for a shortcut or “get rich quick” answer. I’m genuinely trying to understand what I should be learning now, what mistakes to avoid, and whether this plan is realistic before I fully commit to it.

For anyone who has house-hacked or invested while young:
What would you do in my position, and what should I be researching first?

Thanks in advance.

[Caleb Brown]

There are many programs where 3.5-5% is the down payment so that won't trigger needing a cosigner. It'll be more on your credit history, income, etc. Door dash is seen as self employment so it'll depend on what your tax returns show you make. If your income shows as 20-40K then it'll be tough to be approved depending on the property price and if you have any debt. If I was in your position I'd focus on my income, credit and not having consumer debt. Maybe touch base with a local lender to see what they say.