House Hacking Strategy To Begin Real Estate Investing

[Brandon Kalp]

Hi everyone,

I have always been fascinated with real estate and have finally come across the Rental Property Investing book which has led me to the Bigger Pockets website. I've gone through a lot of the threads and think this is an awesome community so far!

I have done a lot of research on homes in my area lately and think the best strategy for me to get started is buying a duplex to live in one side and rent out the other. I had a couple questions and wanted to get some opinions from people on Bigger Pockets. Any replies will be greatly appreciated. 

I have gone through my numbers for finding my first duplex along with the requirements in the towns I am looking into buying for rental properties. I know a lot of people are saying that home prices keep going up and up and one thing stressed in the book was not rushing in and waiting for a good deal.

So, for a duplex that you are looking into for renting one side and living in the other, would a good deal be having the rent you are getting break even on the mortgage, insurance, and taxes?. Or would you recommend waiting to find a deal where you were making a small profit after mortgage, insurance, and taxes? Any comments would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.