Today Faith Kae shares her small multi-family house hacking story from Statesboro, Georgia.

Want to try house hacking for yourself? I highly encourage you to grab a copy of our House Hacking Quick Start Guide (free) as you read along. Not only will it deepen your learning, but it also includes a cost-saving tip most house hackers miss. 

House Hacking Case Study

Faith is a Loan Assistant for the USDA Rural Development program. As a recent college graduate, she was interested in the idea of house hacking as a way to slash her expenses. In the past year, she took her time to learn more about house hacking. At the time, she was living with roommates in a college town for $400 per month.

The House Hack

In July 2020, Faith closed on her first property. She chose a duplex in Statesboro to be her first home. The best part is that she will be able to cover the entire mortgage with the help of her tenants.

Updating the Units

After closing on the property, Faith spent $14,000 to update the units with the help of the FHA 203K loan. She installed a new roof, installed a new HVAC unit, and added new carpet and paint to one unit.

At first, she is focusing on updating the tenant’s side of the duplex. But once she moves in, Faith plans to update the unit she is living in with vinyl plank flooring, repainted cabinets and new countertops. These updates will happen over time with the positive cash flow of the other unit.

The Tenants

When Faith closed on the property, she inherited tenants on both sides of the duplex. Unfortunately, she had to remove one of the tenants immediately due to the occupancy rules of the FHA loan. Although it was uncomfortable, she was able to make it happen. Plus, the other tenant has been very nice throughout the process.

For now, she plans to self-manage the property. With the help of Cozy.co and Stessa, she plans to stay organized.

The Numbers of the Deal

It’s time to find out exactly how profitable this house hacking strategy was!

Financing

Faith used the FHA 203K loan to finance this purchase. She was able to use $14,000 of the loan upfront to cover some renovation costs. She put down 3.5% on the loan with a 3.25% interest rate. That led to a total monthly payment of $770.45.

Rental Income

Faith is able to charge her tenants $1,125 per month.

  • Previous housing costs: $400
  • Gross Rent: $1,125
  • Mortgage payment: $770.45
  • Cashflow before maintenance and vacancies: 345.55
  • Total housing savings: $754.55

The cash flow of the property is cashflow positive. Plus, Faith is able to live for free! She would absolutely house hack again because this is the only time in her life when she has been able to live for free!

Want to get paid to live in your home? Dive into housing hacking with our House Hacking Quick Start Guide. 

The Learning Curve

The overall house hacking process has been a positive experience for Faith. She plans to use her savings to save up for a new car and then another investment property.

However, she would change the details of her closing contract if she could go back in time. When she closed on the property, there were tenants in both of the units. Due to the occupancy requirements of the FHA loan, she had to terminate the lease of one of the tenants. If she could go back, she would make the seller remove that tenant before she took possession of the property.

Faith’s advice to anyone considering housing hacking is, “Do it! Make sure you can afford the mortgage whether you are renting out a space or not.”

Get In Touch

If you want to learn more about this successful house hack, then here’s how you can connect with Faith. She is available via Instagram and YouTube.

The Bottom Line

Faith’s story proves that house hacking is possible with some creativity! She will be able to reap the rewards of this decision for many years to come!

Next, hosting international homestay students pays off for Chrissy.

If you are interested in creating your own house hacking story, then check out our ultimate guide, listen to our house hacking podcast, or read more case studies for inspiration. You never know how dramatically your life can change through this one choice!

If you choose to pursue a house hack of your own, then please share your story with us! We would love to showcase your success like we have with other case studies.