Tips for your house hack search in Chicago

When looking for a property to house hack, keep an eye out for these things in a potential house hack property:

Duplex up/down units - units that are duplexed up or down mean more finished square footage and usually more bedrooms and/or bathrooms, which translates to higher rents.

Low rents - properties with low rents have them for a reason. Usually this means the tenants have been there for years and the units could use some updating.

Outdated finishes - this is usually observed in conjunction with low rents. Cosmetic updates to the property such as paint, flooring, kitchen, and bath go a long way to improving the desirability and rent of the property.

Other income - amenities such as garage or private parking, in-unit laundry, coin laundry, and storage are great ways to increase the income of a property.