How long do I need to live in a house hack?

FHA requires you to occupy the property as your primary residence for at least 12 months. After that you can move out and keep the rental.

Investing strategy

House Hacking

Live for free (or close to it) — the house hack strategy.

What is house hacking?

House hacking is buying an owner-occupied property (usually a 2–4 unit small multi-family) with low-down-payment financing like FHA or VA, then renting out the other units to cover most or all of your mortgage.

Why it works

FHA loans allow 3.5% down on 1–4 unit properties as long as you live in one. That same financing on a pure investment property would require 20–25% down — house hacking is the fastest legal way to start with less capital.

Best property types

Duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes work best. Single-family homes with separate accessory dwelling units or rentable bedrooms also qualify.

Run House Hacking deals in FlipOS

FlipOS includes a deal analyzer with house hacking built in, plus project management, CRM, and budgets for after the deal closes.

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Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to live in a house hack?: FHA requires you to occupy the property as your primary residence for at least 12 months. After that you can move out and keep the rental.