Where in Chapel Hill, NC Area to purchase house-hack???

[Connor Bath]

Hi, 

I am completing a grad program at UNC-Chapel Hill and have some free time daily. I am looking for a deal to put a little TLC while living there next year and then rent out after my program is finished. I am new to the Chapel Hill area, so I am open to advice, but it seems like the Mebane, Hillsborough, and Pittsboro areas are attainable at a low price. Maybe even the outskirts of Durham? I have completed one house hack before, but I am new to the area and am looking for any advice/contacts that could point me in the right direction in terms of neighborhoods with strong appreciation in the future. I have enough for a 5% DP and a friend who can co-sign looking to stay under 300k before repairs. 

Lmk if anyone has any advice or experience in the area!

[V.G Jason]

Quote from @Connor Bath:

Hi, 

I am completing a grad program at UNC-Chapel Hill and have some free time daily. I am looking for a deal to put a little TLC while living there next year and then rent out after my program is finished. I am new to the Chapel Hill area, so I am open to advice, but it seems like the Mebane, Hillsborough, and Pittsboro areas are attainable at a low price. Maybe even the outskirts of Durham? I have completed one house hack before, but I am new to the area and am looking for any advice/contacts that could point me in the right direction in terms of neighborhoods with strong appreciation in the future. I have enough for a 5% DP and a friend who can co-sign looking to stay under 300k before repairs. 

Lmk if anyone has any advice or experience in the area!

Chapel Hill or this entire area is extremely difficult with $300k or under before repairs. You might find a few attached townhouses/condos with bad HOAs for that price, but many houses even from off-market dealers. For that price range you'd have to go East Durham which is the D/F area of Durham. Hillsborough would still run you closer to $350-$400k. Multi-family is extremely difficult in this area, if you're thinking rent by the room you'd have more luck but would need to stretch out as east as Zebulon and as south as Fuquay to really tap the market at that price point. 

Regardless, if you're able to make this work this is a great, great area to get into. I say that being quite invested in it, full disclosure, but since I've been here I've gotten even more bullish every month as it goes on.