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All Forum Posts by: Fabio Selmi

Fabio Selmi has started 5 posts and replied 21 times.

Post: House Hacking a Multi-Use?

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @Kyle Hoffman:

The house hack is one of the best ways to leverage financing to get started in real estate investing or expand a portfolio. I'm a realtor in the Indianapolis market and work with new investors who look for duplexes and single-family homes with ADUs. Fannie Mae's reduction of the down payment requirement for 2-4 units to just 5% for conventional is a game changer and has allowed house hacking to be more attainable. You can also use FHA with 3.5% down as well although may be harder to win in a more competitive market. The multi-family house hack can also work to increase cash flow other than just renting out spare bedrooms.

Kyle, thank you for your perspective.

I will surely use house hacking to get started in real estate, no doubts about that. The ADU trick popped up in my latest conversation with the brilliant @Bruce Woodruff

Post: House Hacking a Multi-Use?

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @Jonathan Greene:

You can house hack a mixed-use commercial property with an owner-occupied loan (and FHA) if the residential square footage is 51% or more. It is completely doable and a great option because you get longer tenancies with the retail.

Jonathan, that sounds very interesting. Thank you for chiming in, I'll definitely explore this option further!

Post: House Hacking a Multi-Use?

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17

So today I was talking to my mentor and we were considering different real estate strategies to expand my horizons.

He mentioned mixed-use properties, which I honestly have never considered as an investment. Since my strategy would definitely involve house hacking, I was thinking about house hacking with a mixed-use property.

It could be interesting to evaluate as a strategy, but only if I can access financing with a low downpayment.

How would that work from a financing standpoint? Any lender or investor has experience on this?

As usual, hat tip to @Bruce Woodruff  who always nudges me to explore something new and learn more about it.

Post: House Hacking a Mixed-Use?

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17

So today I was talking to my mentor and we were considering different real estate strategies to expand my horizons.

He mentioned mixed-use properties, which I honestly have never considered as an investment. Since my strategy would definitely involve house hacking, I was thinking about house hacking with a mixed-use property.

It could be interesting to evaluate as a strategy, but only if I can access financing with a low downpayment.

How would that work from a financing standpoint? Any lender or investor has experience on this?

As usual, hat tip to @Bruce Woodruff who always nudges me to explore something new and learn more about it.

Post: Working on Plan B

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @Peter Mckernan:
Quote from @Fabio Selmi:

Hi all,

I have a dilemma this Sunday night and need your input. Although I hope to move to a new market and start investing in a few months, there's also a chance that I might get "stuck" in Orange County for a while. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad place to be stuck in, lol.

I'd like to dip my toes into real estate and have a few months to invest in learning something new. Tonight, it seems to me that obtaining a real estate license in California is the best investment at the moment.

Unfortunately, California has no reciprocity rule, meaning my license would be useless if I moved elsewhere–which is quite disappointing.

Still, I think it would allow me to start working in real estate as an agent within a few months.

What do you think? Do you believe that having a license, even for just a few months, would be a good investment for the future, or would I be wasting my time and money?

Have a great Sunday night. I'll continue pondering this question while sipping some wine. :)


 I think the license is like a BA or BS degree.. It really is not useful until you put the work in.. Taking the classes and taking the test does not prepare you for the field. I used to be a firefighter, and all the training from paramedic school to the fire academy did not get me up to speed as fast as being in the seat and doing the work with clients and investors. 

Take the test and get licensed, then when you start to put in the work that is where you will learn the most and get the biggest benefits! 


 Great example, Peter. Thanks for chiming in.

Quote from @Jordan Moorhead:

@Fabio Selmi I enjoy living in Austin quite a lot and househacked a few times here. I would figure out where you want to live and househack there. Invest where it makes sense, you don't need to live in a place to invest in real estate there.


Jordan, your suggestion makes perfect sense and I agree–loving the place where you live is definitely the most important thing. 

Let's say we started from figuring out where we could potentially like to live, then included real estate in the discussion as well.

But I agree, I definitely don't want to go live somewhere just cause real estate is cheaper or more promising. :)

Post: Working on Plan B

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @Account Closed:

It sounds like you're weighing your options pretty carefully. Investing in a real estate license could be a smart move, especially if you might be staying in Orange County for a while. 

It could open up some doors for you in the real estate market, even if it's just for a few months. Plus, learning something new is always a valuable investment. Just make sure to consider the potential limitations if you do decide to move later on.

Thank you for chiming in, Martin. I do love learning new things, so that would be an added bonus.

Post: Working on Plan B

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @James Carlson:

In all seriousness, would you get it to buy for yourself? Okay, maybe. The savings from not having a buyer's agent might make sense. (Even then, the realtor in me says working on your own deal as your first deal is a recipe to lose a much money as you save.) Or would you get it as a job for those few months?

At least here in Colorado, the licensing courses cost $400 minimum and are for 168 hours, plus time studying for the exams and cost of exams. Then you've got the license fee ($200ish), joining a local Realtor association (~$150) and national realtor association if required by your local board (another $150), the local MLS access fees ($300), e-contract software ($80/mo), E&O insurance (maybe $100/mo).

I guess I'm saying, if you're getting it for kicks, hell no it's not worth it. If you're getting it as a job, can you close a deal or two before you leave California? Then yeah it's worth it, but if want to be sure I can get s free deals and know a plan for that before throwing in that money and time. 

Don't mean to be so dismissive. It's just ... those courses are booooring, and the time and money commitment upfront ain't nothing. 


It absolutely makes sense. I would do it only if I could get a job and close a couple of deals before leaving California. 

And then I’d reasonably need to get a license in the next state, whatever that is, which is not going to be fun. I don’t like to do things twice, especially if they are as boring as you are describing.

Post: Working on Plan B

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17
Quote from @James Carlson:
Quote from @Fabio Selmi:

...Do you believe that having a license, even for just a few months, would be a good investment for the future, or would I be wasting my time and money? ...

 I can't think of a more boring way to spend $1,000s of dollars and lose hundreds of hours of time. 


 Man, I know I can always count on your unfiltered opinion, James! lol

Post: Working on Plan B

Fabio SelmiPosted
  • Posts 21
  • Votes 17

Hi all,

I have a dilemma this Sunday night and need your input. Although I hope to move to a new market and start investing in a few months, there's also a chance that I might get "stuck" in Orange County for a while. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad place to be stuck in, lol.

I'd like to dip my toes into real estate and have a few months to invest in learning something new. Tonight, it seems to me that obtaining a real estate license in California is the best investment at the moment.

Unfortunately, California has no reciprocity rule, meaning my license would be useless if I moved elsewhere–which is quite disappointing.

Still, I think it would allow me to start working in real estate as an agent within a few months.

What do you think? Do you believe that having a license, even for just a few months, would be a good investment for the future, or would I be wasting my time and money?

Have a great Sunday night. I'll continue pondering this question while sipping some wine. :)