Free House Hack Calculator

House hacking means buying a property, living in it, and renting out part of it to offset your housing costs. Strategies include: renting rooms in a single-family home, buying a duplex/triplex/fourplex and renting the other units, or renting an ADU or basement apartment.

Total rental income from other units or rooms, minus your share of mortgage, taxes, insurance, and expenses, equals your net monthly housing cost (or cash flow if income exceeds all expenses). On a well-priced fourplex with FHA financing, you can often live nearly free or cash flow positive.

House hacking is one of the highest-return strategies available to new investors. You get below-market financing (owner-occupied rates), lower down payment (3.5% FHA), live cost-free or near-free, build equity, and gain landlord experience — all on your first property.

Small multifamily (duplex, triplex, fourplex) is ideal — separate units, easy to manage, and eligible for residential financing. Single-family with separate entrance suite or ADU works well. Single-family room rental works financially but requires more comfort with shared living spaces.

Yes — FHA loans allow you to purchase 1-4 unit properties with 3.5% down if you owner-occupy one unit. This is the most powerful house hack financing available. The FHA fourplex with 3.5% down is often cited as the single best wealth-building entry point in real estate for people with limited capital.

FHA requires 12 months of owner occupancy as your primary residence. After 12 months, you can move out and rent all units, or purchase another property to house hack again. Repeating the process every 12-24 months is a proven strategy for rapidly building a rental portfolio with minimal capital.