Does your first duplex (owner occupied) have to cash flow?

[Brett Picher]

Hi everyone, I’ve decided that I am going to house hack in order to get started in real estate investing. I have found a relatively cheap duplex that I believe will cash flow after the first year if it’s fully rented.

My plan is to live in it for the first year or the minimum required time, add some value to it, and then refinance to find more deals.

I have the funds needed but for the time I’m there it would be costing me around $300-$500 per month to live there. However if I move out after the minimum required time I’m positive it will begin to cash flow. Is this something worth pursuing?