I have money for a down payment but poor W2

[Zane Landeck]

I am 24 years old currently renting in Nashville. I have 30k saved up, but do not have strong W2 or 1099 income right now. Will this effect me pulling a FHA loan? Would co-signers help pull the loan? I have read the House Hacking book and plan to do just that when my current lease is up. Any thoughts on what the smartest thing to do here is and any plan of actions I should take?

[Cory J Thornton]

@Zane Landeck - Please take the following at face value. Some of this may apply, some of this may not, but hopefully something will prove helpful. You have $30k in savings, which is an awesome step in the right direction! 

- The biggest thing you can do is increase your income. Every decision has a trade off. When we talk about investing and goals, every person will have different targets and will be comfortable with different decisions. If your income is based on a 40 hour work week, can you find a part time job to pick up another 20-30 hours or can you pick up extra shifts where you already work? Work/life balance isn't something every person is supposed to have. Work/life balance is a choice with a trade off. Working more has a trade off and is right for some people. Working less has a trade off and is fine for other people. Each decision has a trade off. 

- Is there a certification you can work towards quickly or a position you could apply for to increase your income at your current job? 

- Start calling local banks to learn about their lending programs, what requirements they have, and if they have any first time home buyer grants available. As a first time home buyer usually there is an incentive out there somewhere for your to leverage. I found a bank last week in NC that was giving first time home buyers $7k at closing to either put towards closing costs or to use for purchasing a better rate. 

- Since you already have $30k stashed away, I would guess that you've already developed some great habits around creating a budget and sticking to it. If not, then I highly recommend planning your personal expenses a month in advance, refuse to exceed the expending limits unless absolutely nessisaryily, and then continue to build your downpayment fund. 

Starting off with a house hack is a fantastic strategy! I really wish I had been open to this type of move when I was 24. Whatever work and sacrifice you make right now, to start a house hack, will be something you are glad of in a decade. 

Keep us all posted on your success!