Best Tech Hub Cities for House Hacking

[Yazan Dabbagh]

Hey Everyone!

I currently live in coastal California and I’m working in the software industry. I’m working on becoming a software developer and once that happens, I’ll probably have the capital to invest in RE and also the flexibility to live wherever I’d like.

I just finished the BP book on House Hacking and I realized that it would be really hard to achieve in CA. At some point in my career I think it would be a wise decision to relocate to a new city that is an emerging tech hub and has good opportunity for some small multifamily house-hacks (duplex, triplex, fourplex).

The problem is that I’m not sure which cities have a good availability of tech jobs and are somewhat affordable in comparison to CA.

I’m mainly interested in cities around Austin and Denver (so any suggestions of up and coming neighborhoods would be awesome). However if there are other cities/neighborhoods in the country that you would suggest I would love to hear about them.

Thank you so much!!

[Casey Christensen]

Hey @Yazan Dabbagh - I live in Utah and we have an exploding tech sector in the state. I live in Lehi which is right next to what is known as silicon slopes. There are new buildings popping up all the time and it seems like all of them are being filled with tech companies. We have a lot of software developers that live in and around my neighborhood. You would not have a problem finding a good paying job around here and while prices and rents have been rising steadily it is still much more affordable than most of California. 

we have been house hacking our home for 4+ years and were living for free for a lot of it. depending on what you are looking for, I think a good option in Utah would be buying a new 4-plex with FIG. They build them and you get in with them during the building phase and get instant equity once its completed for taking on the building project. They are really nice and in good areas. If you are single you could live in one, rent the other rooms in the unit you live in and then rent the other 3 units out and probably do quite well.

There are lots of other options though as well if that doesnt fit your goals. Good luck in whatever direction you go.