House hacking in San Diego, CA

[Angie Poonka]

Hello! My name is Angeline and I am very new and interested in the incredible idea of house hacking! My background is medicine and have only within the last few months gotten hooked onto the bigger pockets podcast and the idea of house hacking. My husband and I live in San Diego and are looking to buy a home in about a year from now. Our criteria is either a duplex with the ability to build an ADU, or a Single family home with an ADU already on the property. San Diego's housing market is incredibly expensive as well as competitive. It has gotten even more competitive due to the low interest rates as well as a low home inventory due to Covid. Due to California's housing crisis, owning an ADU and a JADU on your property has now become legal, there is supposedly far less red tape! I wanted to see if anyone on this forum has any experience with house hacking in one of california's most sought after cities? specifically San Diego? Also, which would be better to purchase a duplex or a SFH with an ADU? I've been finding both on the market within the $750,000 range.

 thanks for your thoughts!  

[Angie Poonka]

Hi Maxwell, thanks for your post! We are looking in neighborhoods that seem to be more up & coming. I've had my eye on lemon grove due to the businesses coming in as well as it's close proximity to la Mesa. We are open to other areas as well! Just wouldn't want to go over $750,000 for a property. I actually just looked at a property the other day that has a duplex on a HUGE lot! Lots of opportunity. For me, the only way we would buy a duplex would be if it was zoned for 3-4 units so we could build an ADU on the land. Also, I'm curious if single family homes could be built on large lots that have duplexeS already on them?