Best strategy for multiple house hacks

[Jake Gilleland]

Hello! 

My girlfriend and I are graduating college in the spring of 2022 and we are looking to get our first house hack shortly after graduation. We have set a goal of getting 4 properties in the first 4 years after graduation by utilizing low money down options, living in the property for 1 year and moving on to the next. We would like to do this with 2-4 unit properties. My question would be what is the best strategy when it comes to financing? An FHA loan for the first property is the most realistic option for us as its only 3.5% down and we have saved enough for that already. But as far as I know you are only allowed to have one FHA loan at a time. Do I try and buy the first property on my own then she buys the second on her own? or can we use the FHA for the first property and get another low money down option for any following properties? I have seen that I may need 15% down for our second property, is it possible to get a 5% conventional loan on a 2-4 unit? Has anyone else had this experience?

Thanks!