There are a lot of different ways to house hack and each strategy has pros and cons. Whether you decide to hack a multi-family, condo, townhouse, or single-family, I believe it’s important to list your must-haves and nice-to-haves when searching for a property. Categories to think about are deciding what type of neighborhood class you want to invest & live in, selecting your desired location, understanding your renter avatar, looking at crime rates and school districts, and potential appreciation based on the type of neighborhood you decide to invest in. Listed below are the must-haves my wife and I used when deciding on our first house hack. 

Our three must-haves:

1. Water Views and/or within 10 minutes of the beach 

2. At least 3 units to cover our expenses 

3. Walking distance to bars & restaurants 

Our three nice-to-haves: 

1. Low to No crime 

2. Updated kitchen and living space 

3. Outdoor space