House Hacking Question in Michigan

[Rick Sutton]

I will be buying a SFH in the metro Detroit area from a family member this Spring. I would like to get a 3.5% down mortgage on it and house hack it. The challenge is.......I'm currently spending every night at my elderly Mom's house to aid and assist her and to provide some friendship and support given she doesn't really go anywhere due to the pandemic challenges.

I believe house hacking requires the owner to live in their house for 1 year in order to qualify for a 3.5% down loan, however, does that mean spend every night there or can I have a room and belongings there, yet, only stay there one night a week?

If I need to actually live there full time (which I can't), I believe I would then need to get a 20% down loan as it would be considered a rental property. If that is the case, it might make more sense for me to sell the home, take the $90k in equity I'll have and use that to buy other rental properties.

Thanks in advance!