How to analyze house hack

[Libby Louer-Thompson]

I'm wondering how you all would analyze a duplex house hack. My market has only one duplex on the market every other week that is big enough for myself and my 2 kids and that is in a neighborhood where I would I feel safe enough to live in. Houses here are going for $100k over asking. I don't think the market here will support growth long term IMO. We don't exactly have a thriving business community or economic growth, but I just got divorced and am in a rental right now, so this market is unfortunately what I'm stuck with. Based on Bigger Pockets calculators, the duplex I am looking at tomorrow will not be a good deal for an investor at the price it is likely to go at. But there is value in it as my primary residence, being something that is big enough for my family and in a great neighborhood. I just don't know how to calculate that value. Am I just looking at if I can afford this as my primary residence, taking into account all the costs that go into owning a home with the benefit of some rental income? Or there some more sophisticated way to analyze this? I might be overthinking it, but welcome your thoughts.

[Account Closed]

If the goal is to be your primary residence, and you're currently renting, stack up your current rent to your prospective duplex's mortgage payment + expenses (insurance, maintenance, CapEx, vacancy) - the potential rental income you could bring in. Obviously a home run deal is one that cash flows positively, but it could still make sense if you can add value, build equity, and do this for less money/mo than you were spending on rent.