New Investor, House hack?

[Kurt Meehan]

Hi everyone,

I’m 19 years old and currently in my second year of college, aiming to graduate in December 2026. My plan is to purchase my first property after securing a full-time job post-graduation. Right now, I have about $45k invested in the stock market. I work part-time and make around $2,400 a month, saving roughly $1,900 of that per month. I’m based in Allentown, PA, and I’m planning to invest in the Lehigh Valley area—most likely by house hacking a 4-unit as my first rental property.

I’d really appreciate advice on the following:

1. Should I continue investing my monthly savings into the stock market, or shift to just contributing to my HYSA as I get closer to purchasing?
2. Does house hacking a 4-plex sound like a smart move for a first property given my age, experience, and goals?
3. How realistic is it to get pre-approved for a mortgage before I graduate and secure a full-time job?
4. Would it be worth it to get my real estate license before purchasing my first rental—or at all?
5. I’m considering hiring a property manager for my first rental even though I’ll be living in one of the units. Is that a bad idea? My thinking is that since I’m inexperienced, having a manager in place could help—and it would also set things up smoothly for when I move out after a year to house hack again.