House Hacking without an FHA?

[Ashton Patterson]

The obvious winner when it comes to financing a house hack seems to be an FHA loan. However, my friend and I are having a hard time qualifying for enough to get a duplex in our area with an FHA because my tip income doesn't qualify. After talking with a local bank, it sounds like we would have no problem getting a loan, but the terms would be less attractive with a higher down payment and a slightly higher adjustable rate.

I was wondering if anyone on here has financed any house hack scenarios with local banks, or even used other forms of creative financing to fund their first property?