Buy a house to live in while renting a room; good/bad idea?

[Aaron NA]

With my lease expiring soon (house with 2 roommates), I am looking to purchase a home with total cost of debt, tax, expected maintenance, and insurance less than my current rent payments (or within $100, so essentially less than $1100). Given the mortgage interest rate I have been approved for, this puts my target price around $250,000 (there are several candidates in the Minneapolis, MN area). However, I'm not doing this to break even; I'm seeking homes with 4 beds 2 baths, not all beds on the same level, and I would plan to rent 2 beds and 1 bath to a roommate.

1.  Is it a realistic expectation that I will be able to find roommates for this type of arrangement (I would plan to used some of the site linked here, and others, for marketing, while paying if needed: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/top-9-best-roommate-finders)?

2.  Could I expect around 50% of the whole home rental value from such a tenant (if not, what approximate %)?

3.  Are there specific neighborhoods (or type of neighborhoods) I should target to attract a tenant that would be amenable to this arrangement?

4.  To what extent should I give preference to higher income, high % or renters, younger average age, and higher % with college degrees neighborhoods, or their counterparts (I use http://www.mncompass.org/profi... for my demographic data)?

If it matters, I'm 28 single vanilla white guy, I have more than enough saved for 20% down, and I have no debt. I don't plan on needing to move for work in at least the next 3.5 years, and even then can ride out the market in Minneapolis if necessary. Someone please let me know if what I am contemplating sounds really stupid? Forgive my ignorance, I've never purchased real estate before.

Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to offer some feedback.

[Adam Tafel]

@Aaron NA - this strategy is what allowed me to buy my second investment, which is now a cash-flowing vacation rental. My thoughts:

1. Yes, it's very easy, assuming you've got a nice home in a desirable area. Every time I've posted a CL or FB marketplace AD I'm bombarded with inquiries. I can show you examples of my marketing strategy. Get professional pictures and describe yourself in detail, you are selling yourself as a roommate (more than the home itself). 

2. With a 4/2 you could probably achieve 100% of the home rental value. For example, in my last househack the market rent for the entire home was around $1900/mo. I rented out 2 rooms for $650 a piece, and the master on Airbnb for $1200. Most months I got paid to live in my house after paying all expenses. On a 250k home your payment will likely be around $1250/mo, and the going rate for a room in St. Paul/Minneapolis ranges from $600-800/mo.

3. Central locations, close to public transportation, downtowns, hospitals, colleges, etc. You also want the neighborhood to be lower priced but convenient  (if you are to purchase a 4/2 with 250k). St. Paul : West 7th, Dayton's Bluff, West Side, Midway. Minneapolis: Powderhorn, NE, North. 

4. I haven't found that higher earners make better roommates. I've rented to med students, bartenders, interns, corrections officers, IT guys, retail workers, pretty much the whole spectrum of occupations. I critiqued housemates on a lifestyle/personality basis more than financial situation, and it worked out pretty well. 

The only thing I would add is to consider looking at 2-4 unit properties as well. They will likely cashflow better once your move out, and if you're willing to occupy a unit with roommates you'll see some pretty great returns. Feel free to reach out if you'd ever like any advice, happy to help.