House Hacking

House hacking is the most accessible real estate strategy for beginners. Buy a duplex, triplex, or fourplex — live in one unit and rent out the others. Your tenants effectively pay your mortgage.

The brilliant part: properties up to 4 units qualify for residential financing (FHA, VA, conventional) with low down payments. A 4-unit property with an FHA loan requires just 3.5% down — a fraction of what commercial real estate demands.