House Hacking To Move Out

[Jarrod Murrell]

I am about to place a bid on a duplex in my area. I am 22, and working full time. My goal right now for my first property is to have a house hack closer to work. I currently live at home with my parents, however the 35 minute one way commute(longer in the pm), is getting annoying, and im ready to invest. The duplex im going to offer on is a great house! It is very solid, has room for improvements to add value, and has opportunity for cashflow. However, if I am hacking it i would be paying cheap rent. My dilemma, if it is one, is this: should i be down about it not being a cashflowing-rent-free living experience? Or pretty excited that im paying a couple humdred dollars to live in a house i own? I guess within a few years of appreciation, raising rents, and a refi(brrrr) i should be fine. First post on BP, i listen to the new podcasts weekly.