Emergency Fund Before Investing: How Much Is Enough?
Why an emergency fund comes before your first property, how many months of expenses to hold, and how I saved mine on a low income before my first house.
How Long Do You Have to Live in a House Hack?
FHA loans require one year of occupancy in a house hack, starting within 60 days of closing. What the rule says, what can extend it, and how I planned my year.
First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes
Common first-time home buyer mistakes, from shopping before pre-approval to ignoring down payment assistance, and the specific fix for each one of them.
Is Renting a Waste of Money?
Rent buys shelter and flexibility and returns no equity. Here is how to tell whether renting is actually costing you, using your own numbers.
How to Find a House Hack Property
Small multifamily listings are harder to search than houses. The filters, listing sources, and five-minute screen I use to find a duplex worth touring.
How to Get Out of Poverty: The Order I Put Things In
The order I used to get out of poverty: stabilize the month, raise income, cut the housing line, fix credit, then buy a property that pays part of its own way.
Using a VA Loan on a Duplex or Fourplex: The Rules That Actually Matter
A VA loan buys a duplex or fourplex with nothing down if you live in one unit. The rules that catch people: the landlord test and the six month reserve.
Duplex or Single-Family Starter Home? The Numbers That Decide It
A duplex costs more up front and hands part of the payment back every month. A starter home is simpler. Here is the math and what you give up either way.
Rent by the Room or Rent the Whole Unit? How the Two House Hacks Differ
Renting rooms brings in more gross rent. Renting a separate unit brings in less and gives you a door that closes. The lending rules are what actually decide it.
Realtor.com’s Best First-Time Buyer Cities, Run Through Duplex Math
Realtor.com’s 2026 list of the best markets for first-time buyers ranks Rochester, New York first. My own screen, which asks