All Forum Posts by: Lucas Vanroboys
Lucas Vanroboys has started 12 posts and replied 32 times.
Post: Switching Primary Residencies to House Hack!

- Boston, MA
- Posts 32
- Votes 16
I have a fully paid off property from an inheritance that I am looking to use to scale a Rental portfolio. The property is 3 bed 3 bath semi-detached SFH and is my primary residence. I am planning on getting a line of credit on this property while it is my primary residence (lower rate) for downpayment, rehab expenses, etc. on a multi family where I which I would then switch my primary residence to to househack with an FHA loan.
I would love to start a conversation on the legitimacy of this plan and whether there are any holes in it or not? I guess my questions are as follows:
The first one is regarding the timing and chronological order of HELOCing my primary residence before switching it to the multifamily for FHA loan.
The second one is a potential hiccup called "underwriters discretion" where the underwriter might flag my primary residency moving from a SFH to a multifamily. Talking with a friend in the space I was made aware that underwriters see multi-families as less ideal than SFH's and thus would become weary to lend on a move going the opposite direction
Any comments are much appreciated!
Post: Advice on using home equity to scale

- Boston, MA
- Posts 32
- Votes 16
Hi!
I have a fully paid off 3 bed, 3 bath property from an inheritance that is my primary residence. It is a single unit in a duplex complex in South Boston and I collect rent from 3 tenants that live with me that generates a very strong solid monthly cashflow. I want to grow my portfolio using the BRRR strategy in multi-family (2-3 units) or small commercial (3-6 units) properties starting with the equity I have sitting in my house. With this goal, I have been collecting advice, input, and recommendations over thee past few months on the best way to access the money and execute my plan. Any and all advice is welcome!
Here is a bit of background on my current situation:
I am a 24 year old graduate student and do not have 2 years of income verification from any W-2's. I do however have rent income from my current property (just over a year now) and small amounts of self-employment income from a side-gig business I have been running for the past year. I say this because this makes income verification for the loan approval process at traditional lenders difficult from what I have been told. I have heard something about exceptions for students but from my initial research, this is contingent on a job after school in the field you studied which is the next part of my story. After I graduate, I plan on pursuing a career in professional hockey which is not necessarily the field I studied in school! The income from this is contract based which may complicate this process as well.
I guess my question is what would be the best way to access the equity in my primary residence. From other conversation I have heard about HELOC's and Cash-Out Refinances but am struggling to differentiate the two.
Then, once I have the cash, what kind of financing options would I be looking for the new property? I have always had in mind a house hack with an FHA loan by moving my primary residency to the new property and turning my existing one into an investment property, but then I have also learned about "Underwriting Description" where loan officers will flag my move from a SFH to a multifamily.
I am looking to make my purchase in the spring as I will be done school and have the time to rehab and manage the property full time. Then I want to have the p[roperty rent ready by the end of summer or early fall so I can more passively manage while playing professional hockey. As you can tell, I am trying to nail down my financing plan and options first but maybe this is the wrong approach too?
II know this is a lot in one post and any response will be greatly appreciated!