Working towards first house hacking a duplex

House Hacking
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Working towards first house hacking a duplex

Gabriel Reyes
Member since 2024 · 22 posts · 12 votes

Im a community college student and have a goal of house hacking a property in my area before I'm 25 any pointers?

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Arman AhmedPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 942 votes
4mo
Quote from @Gabriel Reyes:

Im a community college student and have a goal of house hacking a property in my area before I'm 25 any pointers?


Biggest advice is to focus on building your income, credit, and cash reserves while learning how to analyze duplexes and small multifamily properties. Don't wait until you're ready to buy to start studying deals. Look at listings every week, learn local rents, and understand what makes a property cash flow. House hacking is one of the best ways to get started because it lets you live in the property while building equity and landlord experience. If you stay consistent, 25 is a very realistic goal, and you'll be far ahead of where most people are at that age.
[email protected]614-418-6081
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  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 942 votes
    4mo
    Quote from @Gabriel Reyes:

    Im a community college student and have a goal of house hacking a property in my area before I'm 25 any pointers?


    Biggest advice is to focus on building your income, credit, and cash reserves while learning how to analyze duplexes and small multifamily properties. Don't wait until you're ready to buy to start studying deals. Look at listings every week, learn local rents, and understand what makes a property cash flow. House hacking is one of the best ways to get started because it lets you live in the property while building equity and landlord experience. If you stay consistent, 25 is a very realistic goal, and you'll be far ahead of where most people are at that age.
    [email protected]614-418-6081
    2Reply
  • Minho Lee
    Real Estate Agent · Worcester, MA · Member since 2026 · 114 posts · 53 votes
    4mo

    First, start building your network, go to local real estate meetups and connect with investors and agents in your area. Try to find an agent who is also an investor, since they’ll understand house hacking and can help you find the right kind of deals.

    Second, focus on educating yourself. Read books on real estate investing and learn how to analyze deals, understand financing (especially FHA/low down payment options), and what makes a property a good house hack.

    Also, be mentally prepared to become a landlord from day one. That means dealing with tenants, maintenance, and vacancies. It’s not always passive, but it’s one of the best ways to get started.

    1Reply
    • Gabriel Reyes
      OP
      Member since 2024 · 22 posts · 12 votes
      4mo

      @Minho Lee Thank you for the reply! what is a book that you recomend?

      1Reply
    • Minho Lee
      Real Estate Agent · Worcester, MA · Member since 2026 · 114 posts · 53 votes
      4mo
      Quote from @Gabriel Reyes:

      @Minho Lee Thank you for the reply! what is a book that you recomend?

      Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Invest in Real Estate, The Multifamily Millionaire, 
      The ABC’s of real estate (Multifamily) are some of the books you can start with! 
      0Reply
  • Jake AndronicoBusiness Member
    Realtor · Reno, NV · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 938 votes
    4mo

    @Gabriel Reyes

    Congrats!! I house hacked twice starting at 22, and it's completely changed my life. 

    Here's what I learned, and what I regret: 

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/922/topics/1133476-hous...

    415-233-1796
    2Reply
  • Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
    Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4mo

    Build your network, educate yourself on what makes a good deal and absorb as much information as possible.

    a good house hack to me is reducing your overall living expense when living there and cash flowing/break even upon move out 

    [email protected]
    Brick House CPAs53 Reviews
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    1Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    4mo
    Quote from @Gabriel Reyes:

    Im a community college student and have a goal of house hacking a property in my area before I'm 25 any pointers?


     Get a mortgage pre-approval, or a roadmap for what to do to qualify for a mortgage.

    You can also talk with mom & dad - who can cosign for you on an FHA mortgage with no credit or income from you.

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9459 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Cole Farrell
    Lender · Easton, PA · Member since 2019 · 90 posts · 32 votes
    4mo

    Good for you! Definitely doable. As everyone said, learn as much as you can. I would also encourage you to explore alternative financing options like seller financing. This is tough in practice, but can work and is a great tool, especially when you're just starting. No matter what, just keep analyzing and making offers constantly.

    1Reply
    • Gabriel Reyes
      OP
      Member since 2024 · 22 posts · 12 votes
      4mo

      @Cole Farrell thanks for reaching out! I have been educating myself on seller financing and I would be open to doing that method.

      0Reply
  • Tre DeBragaPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Worcester, MA · Member since 2022 · 107 posts · 48 votes
    4mo

    Solid goal. Thinking about this in college puts you way ahead.

    The most important thing you can do right now is get around people who are already doing it. Go to local real estate meetups. Introduce yourself to investors, agents, lenders. Tell people what your goal is. You'd be surprised how many doors open just from showing up and being genuine about where you're headed.

    The knowledge and the deal will come. Build the network now while you have time.

    1Reply
  • Twana RasoulBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4mo

    San Diego house hacking is 100% doable - I do it myself and have helped 200+ clients do the same. The key is buying right.

    The markets that pencil best right now for house hacking are City Heights, La Mesa, Logan Heights, Vista, and parts of East San Diego, among others. A duplex in those areas typically runs $800K–$950K. With FHA at 3.5% down, you're looking at roughly $6,000–$6,500/month PITI. A market-rate unit in those neighborhoods rents for $2,200-2,800. So you're reducing your effective housing cost to approximately $4,000/month in San Diego.

    Triplex and fourplex deals pencil even better because you can use future rental income to qualify for a larger loan.

    Happy to answer any specific questions about neighborhoods, financing, or how to analyze a deal. It's what I do full time.

    Twana Rasoul | San Diego 2-4 Unit Multifamily & House Hacking Specialist | 619.792.8295 | twanarasoulrealty.com

    Compass5122 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Bryce Stephens
    Tulsa, OK · Member since 2026 · 8 posts · 4 votes
    4mo

    Good goal to have, and honestly the fact that you're starting before 25 is the biggest thing going for you. Two pointers.

    Run the numbers like you've already moved out. First house hacks almost always look great while you're living in one unit, then the math gets tight once you leave and the rent has to cover the whole mortgage. So underwrite it as a straight rental first, like you're not living there, and see if it still holds up. If it only works because you're living free, that's okay to start, just know that going in so it's not a surprise in year two.

    Other big one is the loan. Living in it lets you use the low down payment owner-occupied financing you won't get on a pure investment property later. So that first one is usually the cheapest you'll ever get into. Don't waste that.

    Last thing, and this is more my area: depending on your local rules, short-term renting the other unit instead of doing a normal 12-month lease can swing the numbers a lot. Sometimes it's a big jump, sometimes the extra work isn't worth it. I mostly look at the STR side, so if you ever want to pressure-test a specific duplex both ways, happy to help.

    0Reply
  • Tre DeBragaPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Worcester, MA · Member since 2022 · 107 posts · 48 votes
    4mo

    I love what Minho said!!

    Love the goal and it's totally achievable with the right focus.

    Start going to local real estate meetups. The relationships you build there will teach you more than most courses, and you never know who might become a future partner, lender, or mentor. Learn from people who are already doing what you want to do in your specific market.

    On the financial side, be honest with yourself early. You'll need a down payment and enough income to qualify for a loan. If either of those feels out of reach on your own, explore partnering with someone. That's a legitimate path and a lot of first deals get done that way.

    In the meantime, read, listen to podcasts, and keep educating yourself. The investors who move fastest are usually the ones who showed up prepared when the right opportunity came along.

    1Reply
  • Jimmy LieuBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3mo
    Quote from @Gabriel Reyes:

    Im a community college student and have a goal of house hacking a property in my area before I'm 25 any pointers?

    Hi Gabriel, welcome to BP! First off, you're already ahead of a lot of people by setting a goal this early. My biggest advice would be to focus on increasing your income, keeping your expenses low, and learning how to analyze deals while you're still in school. Start building relationships with local lenders, agents, investors, and property managers so you have a team in place when you're ready to buy. Also spend time learning about financing options like FHA loans, since house hacking is one of the most popular ways to get started with a lower down payment. Don't feel pressured to buy your first property immediately—use this time to save aggressively, improve your credit, and study your local market so you can recognize a good opportunity when it comes along. If you stay consistent and keep learning, buying a house hack before 25 is a very realistic goal. Good luck!

    [email protected]614-300-7535
    Jimmy Lieu, Red 1 Realty4.9120 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
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