Creating a LLC (owner-occupant with FHA Loan)

[Eric Swope]

BP Community,

I am planning on using a FHA loan for a "house-hack" situation in the Pittsburgh area after I graduate college this spring. My intention was to purchase a duplex with tenants on 30-day leases so I can reside in one unit after closing and satisfy the owner-occupant FHA requirement. I was planning on using an umbrella policy on top of all other insurance for some additional protection. However, since I have to be an owner-occupant per FHA.... I can not put the property into a LLC.

So...Do you think it is a wise decision to create a LLC to use for future deals and treat this LLC as the property manager of my house-hack property? In another words, the lease agreement and all tenant correspondence would stay XYZ LLC as the entity in which payment is directed to instead of my own personal name. I understand that property records would still show that I am the property owner but I am curious if this would be a step in the right direction for future deals and having the tenants view me as a "manager" of XYZ LLC instead of owner/landlord .

Thanks!