FHA occupancy idea for multi family rental

[Michael Boyle]

Hey folks, I wanted to get your thoughts on a financing option I've been considering, since it might come in handy for a duplex my partner and I are interested in.

My wife and I live on a boarding school campus (no lease or anything, think our occupancy permission is somehow part of her employment contract but I'm not really sure TBH) and I work like 40 miles away. I've long thought about getting a multifamily closer to work so i can crash in one of the units and rent the other out (maybe rent both if I rent to a friend and they are cool with me crashing occasionally).

Do you think this would fly with an FHA? I get that I can't rent one of the units for a year, but will it raise flags if I'm just using the unrented unit as an occasional crash pad? I don't really have any bill i can register to that address (school pays utilities) except maybe my Google fi phone plan, but nothing comes in the mail for that.

Thanks!

Michael