House hacking is a term that is becoming more and more popular these days. But what exactly is it? House hacking is the process of renting unused property to cover mortgage costs. It can also be a great way to make some extra money, and it’s a lot of fun too!
In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of house hacking. We will cover everything you need to know to start. So if you want to learn more, keep reading!
What exactly is a house hack?
Finding methods to make money off of your home is one definition of the term “house hacking.” Historically speaking, house hacking included the purchase of a multifamily building. It involves living in one apartment or room while renting out the others to ensure that the renters pay the owner’s mortgage, the owner gains equity while maintaining the property, and all parties benefit from the arrangement.
House hacking is a great way to get into the real estate business. It’s a relatively low-risk way to make money, and it can be a lot of fun. If you’re thinking about getting into this space, there are a few things you should know.
First, you need to have some basic knowledge of the real estate market. You should know how to find good deals, how to negotiate prices, and how to finance your purchase.
Second, you need to prepare yourself for putting in a lot of hard work. House hacking is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time, effort, and dedication to make it work. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great way to cover your cost of housing.
Example of House Hacking
Mr. Money lives in a 2 bed-room house. House hacking to him would be finding a way to rent out his 2nd bedroom and making sure that the rent from the tenant covers all or most of his mortgage payment. Let’s say his mortgage was $1000 because he paid a higher down payment and secured the property on foreclosure. If he could find a roommate who was willing to pay $1000/month, then he would essentially be living mortgage-free while building equity in his estate.
This is an example of house hacking, where the goal is to make some of your personal financial costs disappear by bringing in money from renters.
Develop a Strategy
You are only restricted by your own imagination, the zoning regulations or HOA restrictions that apply to the property, and your ability to locate a tenant who is looking for housing that is similar to what you can provide.
Consider your abilities as well as the way you live your life. Do you have a lot of experience fixing things around the home and you don’t mind where you live much? You might find success by engaging in live-in home flipping. Do you live on a huge property that has a barn or a particularly spacious garage? Consider using it as a rental property.
In the end, everything depends on you, your requirements for incoming income flow, and the aspects of your living environment that you feel most at ease with.
What are some House Hacking strategies?
1. The House Hack: This is the most common type. You purchase a multifamily property, live in one unit, and rent out the other units. The rent from the tenants covers your mortgage payment, and you make a profit each month.
2. The Flip: With this strategy, you purchase a fixer-upper, live in it while you renovate it, and then sell it for a profit.
3. The Lease Option: With this strategy, you find a motivated seller who is willing to lease their property to you with the option to buy. You then renovate the property and sell it for a profit.
What are the benefits of House Hacking?
1. House hacking can be a great way to get started in real estate investing.
2. This process is a relatively low-risk way to make money in real estate.
3. The home hack process can be a lot of fun. You get to renovate properties, meet new people, and make a profit!
4. House hacking can help you build equity quickly.
5. This process can help you become a more well-rounded real estate investor.
What are the risks of House Hacking?
1. House hacking can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. You need to have some basic knowledge of the real estate market and be prepared to put in the work.
2. This process can be stressful. You need to be prepared to deal with tenants, repairs, and other issues that can come up.
3. House hacking is not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with risk and be prepared to deal with the ups and downs of the real estate market.
What to Know about House Hacking – Summary
The concept of house hacking is to simply make use of unused space monetarily. Rather than letting a vacant room in your house go to waste, you can make some extra money by filling that space with a tenant. House hacking is a great way to get into the real estate business, and it’s a relatively low-risk way to make money.
However, vetting your tenants is even more important if you plan on living with them and having them pay off your mortgage. It’s one thing to hire property managers to deal with malicious tenants but it’s an entirely different thing to have to deal with them yourself as a housemate.
House hacking can be a great way to make money, but it’s not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with risk and prepared to deal with the ups and downs of the real estate market. If you’re willing to put in the work, house hacking can be a great way to cover your cost of living and build equity quickly.
