House Hacking Without Living in the House?

[Valerie King]

I want to house hack, mainly because I want the financing that comes with owner occupancy.

But I really don't need to live in the house. I live with my mom rent free and am in no rush to move out. (She's, of course, happy to have me). So what if I buy a multifamily and use it as my address for a year to satisfy the loan requirements while staying with my mom? Then, in a year, I could fill out the unit that I "was living in," right? (I'm seeing better deals in places that are quite a bit farther from my job and where I personally want to live)

Has anyone else done this? How did it work out? Does your mail legally have to be sent to the house you "owner occupy?"