Looking for guidance

[James Melby]

Hi All

I'm looking for the best path to take in regards to getting into rental properties in the Hagerstown, MD area (starting with a house hack).

I'm still currently living at home with mom and dad while I'm finishing up my last year in college and working full time making ~50K and am able to save/invest most of it due to my only real expenses being a car payment and insurance.

I have about $30k saved up between cash and a brokerage account and a pretty solid credit score of around 740 so I shouldn't have much trouble with loan rates.

My main question is - would it be more beneficial to wait it out and buy properties with a conventional loan and 20% down to avoid mortgage insurance or would it be better to use an FHA loan just to get my foot in the door and start my rental property journey.

Any and all advice/input is greatly appreciated. Also if anybody is local and knows somebody that I could go to as a mentor that would be awesome! 

Thanks!

[Steven Silbert]

Although you'll have higher monthly payments with the FHA, being able to keep tens of thousands of dollars of capital towards future transactions is worth it for a house hack in my opinion. Especially because you will be offsetting your own cost of living by living there and renting out other rooms. Also, waiting for that 20 down will defer your entrance into real estate investing by that much longer. I think that one problem you might encounter could be getting an FHA offer accepted over cash offers and 20 down conventional loans in the competitive market right now. Either way, I wish you the best of luck and hope to hear some updates on your journey!