FHA Occupancy Requirements: Primary and Secondary Residence

[Jalen Leichman]

So, a little background before I get into my question. I currently "rent" an apartment where I've lived for the past year, but I don't actually pay rent. I do part-time maintenance work for that apartment company (lawn care, snow removal, repairs, etc) and in return I get to live there rent-free, plus I even get a check from them biweekly. Sounds great, right!? However, now I'm on the journey of buying my very first property, a duplex, using an FHA loan. And I know one of the fha rules is that the home I purchase has to be owner-occupied/intended as my primary residence.

Sooo, my question for any of you brilliant real estate gurus out there is essentially... can I have my cake and eat it too? I don't want to have to completely move out of my rent-free apartment and loose out on the income I get from there. Aren't I able to just say or use the apartment as my "secondary residence" and still have the FHA duplex as my primary residence?