Buying Your First Investment Property — House Hack or Duplex?

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You don’t need to be rich to start investing in real estate.
 You don’t even need to own a rental yet.
 In fact, your first home might be your first investment — if you play it right.

That’s the magic of house hacking and duplex investing — two of the most powerful ways to enter the real estate game with low risk and massive upside.

Let’s walk through how they work, how they compare, and how to decide which one fits your next move.

What Is House Hacking?

House hacking means you live in the property — while renting out part of it to offset or even cover your mortgage.

Common examples:

  • Buying a duplex, triplex, or fourplex and living in one unit
  • Renting out bedrooms in a single-family home
  • Converting a garage or basement into a rental space
  • Using a short-term rental (Airbnb) strategy for part of your home

With the right setup, you could be living for free — or even generating income.

What’s a Duplex Investment?

Buying a duplex is one of the simplest forms of house hacking.

  • You live in one unit
  • You rent out the other
  • You qualify for residential financing (not commercial)
  • You get the benefits of both owner-occupancy and investment returns

In many cases, you can use FHA or 5% down conventional financing to buy a duplex — same as you would for a single-family home.

House Hack vs. Traditional Buyer: The Numbers

Let’s say your mortgage is $2,800/month.
 You rent out a unit or room for $1,800/month.

Your net out-of-pocket = $1,000/month.

Compare that to a traditional buyer paying the full $2,800 — and not earning a cent in return.

Over a year, you’ve saved $21,600 — while building equity and property value.

Why House Hacking Is the Perfect First Investment

  • Low down payment (as low as 3.5%)
  • Lower risk, because you live in the property
  • Faster path to a second property, since your first one can generate income
  • Live-in landlord benefits: lower vacancy, better oversight, lower cost of management

Plus: It’s your life. You can upgrade later. But this move sets your wealth journey in motion.

Bottom Line: Live in Your Investment, Then Level Up

Your first home doesn’t have to be your dream house — it can be your launchpad.

Live in it. Learn from it.
 Leverage it into the next one.

And we’ll help you do it right from day one.

Ready to Take Your First Step?

Skip the guesswork. Take our quick Discovery Quiz to uncover your top financial priorities, so we can guide you toward the wealth-building strategies that fit your life.

  • 💡 Takes just 5 minutes
  • 📊 Tailored results based on your answers
  • 🔒 No credit check required
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Buying a home soon? Complete our short form and we’ll connect you with the best loan options for your target property and financial situation—fast.

  • 💡 Only 2 minutes to complete
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Got a Few Questions First?

Let’s talk it through. Book a call and one of our friendly advisors will be in touch to guide you personally.

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