Converting single family to multiple family homes

[James Day]

First off thank you for taking your time to read

I haven't started my investment journey yet but I'm looking at trying to find single family homes (2 story unfinished basements is ideal) I know that it's legal and heavily dependent on local zoning laws regarding that home, does anyone have any advice on how practical of an idea this, would it be worth my time to house hack a home with an fha loan and convert a single family or just wait until a multiple family appears?

[Jonathan Greene]

This almost never will make sense based on zoning, permit, block makeup, and construction availability. Single-family homes don't sell for that much less than multi-family homes so you would pay high and then renovate into something that wouldn't work on a long-term appreciation basis. If all single-family homes could just be turned into two-family homes, more people would do it. Towns are not pro-multi on single-family blocks and neither are the residents. This is not an idea that will work. There are too many impediments and it will not be cost-effective.